Southwest Airlines and their mechanics have voted to ratify a new tentative agreement. “Our Mechanics will receive well-deserved pay increases, and the Company will realize additional flexibilities necessary to compete in today’s airline industry,” said Vice President of Labor Relations Russell McCrady. “This new contract benefits all parties as it takes care of our People and preserves the long-term health of Southwest Airlines.”
The 2,400 mechanics and related employees will immediately be covered by the ratified contract, which will become amendable in April 2024.
In a blog post on the AMFA website, union leaders said this:
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is proud to announce our more than 2,500 members have overwhelmingly approved the new tentative agreement (TA) by a vote of 94.62% and with 93.62% participation, and the new contract with Southwest Airlines will be ratified immediately.
This process has been a long and arduous one, with nearly seven years of negotiations. But our negotiating committee was proud to recommend the TA which was crafted last month.
There is still work to be done as this new contract is implemented, and the long overdue raise our expert aircraft maintenance technicians have earned is put into practice. However the highlights of the deal, as it stands now, are as follows:
- The snap-up to AMTs base wage will be 20%.
- The smoothed base rate increase going back to 2012 is 2.78%.
- The ratification bonus is $160 million.