Southwest Airlines flight attendants have ratified a contract that includes pay increases totaling more than 33% over four years as airline workers continue to benefit from the industry’s post-pandemic recovery.
The Transportation Workers Union said Wednesday that Local 556 members approved the contract by a margin of 81% to 19%. Last summer, the union board rejected a lower offer, and flight attendants voted against second offer in December.
Southwest employs approximately 20,000 flight attendants. They will receive a raise of more than 22% on May 1 and an annual increase of 3% in each of the next three years.
The union said the contract provides record earnings for flight attendants and sets standards for other flight attendants. Flight attendants at United Airlines and American Airlines, who are represented by other unions, are still negotiating contracts.
The union said the agreement gives Southwest crews the shortest hours and highest wages in the industry, compensation during disruptions such as Southwest’s December 2022 meltdown, and an industry-first paid maternity and parental leave. child. Workers will also share $364 million in ratification bonuses, according to the union.
Dallas-based Southwest, the nation’s fourth-largest airline, said the contract includes schedule changes and will keep the airline operating.
Pilot unions at Delta, United, American and Southwest last year approved contracts that increased wages by more than one-third over several years. Delta said this week that its flight attendants and other non-union workers will receive 5% increases.