Flight attendant at Southwest Airlines have ratified a deal that will see pay increases totaling more than 33% over four years as airline employees continue to benefit from the industry’s recovery since the pandemic.
The Transport Workers Union said Wednesday that members of Local 556 approved the contract by a vote of 81% to 19%. The union’s board rejected a lower offer and flight attendants last summer voted against a second proposal in December.
Southwest has about 20,000 flight attendants. They will receive increases of more than 22% on May 1 and annual increases of 3% for each of the following three years.
The union said the contract provides record profits for flight attendants and sets a standard for other flight attendants. Cabin crew United Airlines And American Airlinesrepresented by other unions are still negotiating contracts.
The union said the agreement gives Southwest crews the shortest day of service and highest pay in the industry, compensation for disruptions like the Southwest meltdown in December 2022 and the industry’s first paid maternity and parental leave. According to the union, workers will also split $364 million in ratification bonuses.
Dallas-based Southwest, the country’s fourth-largest airline, said the deal includes schedule changes and will improve the airline’s operations.
Pilot unions at Delta, United, American and Southwest last year approved contracts that included pay increases of more than a third over several years. This week, Delta said its flight attendants and other non-union workers will receive benefits Increase by 5%.