The total has 2,551 ground crew members handling baggage, cargo and restocking planes, as well as 1,176 customer service agents, 1,500 flight attendants and 1,221 pilots. The reduction will be made on March 15 or April 1 for different groups of employees, the airline said.
An internal memo to employees noted that the airline is open to paying contracts with other union groups that will avoid 6,800 revolving furloughs in 2021.
“We are not closing the door – we will continue negotiations if the union representatives want to continue working towards reaching a mutually agreed settlement,” the memo said.
Major unions in the Southwest quickly objected to the company’s planned furlough and said they would continue to fight to save jobs.
“While this development is not entirely surprising but it is incredibly disappointing for our pilots and their families,” said Capt. John Wax, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. The union “is committed to finding solutions that will prevent the company from taking any further steps towards furloughs.”
He said a number of offers were made by the pilots’ union which meet the company’s savings target, but the company has not made any counter offers.
LUV has always been the stock symbol of the Southwest for Lovefield Airport, the company’s home base in South Las Vegas. The Transport Labor Union, which represents Southwest Flight Attendants among other employees, said the notices issued to employees on Thursday were “L.U.V.” No died. “
Southwest Airlines has about 15 15 billion in cash and is predicted to be the first airline to make money for its shareholders, said Dan Na Akins, an airline economist and adviser to TWU. The union said it has proposed additional cost savings, and thousands of Southwest flight attendants would be willing to take extra unpaid leave to save jobs.
“The opportunity to help our members save their jobs is what we want from TWU members,” said Lynn Montgomery, president of the TWU Unit. “Frontline workers have been in the air during the epidemic, helping to ensure the safety of transport infrastructure important to the country and business, and the company is expanding to additional locations so their skills are needed. “
The Aircraft Mechanics Brothers Association said it was filing for arbitration to stop Furlow, which it said had a right under the contract because it was outsourcing some mechanical work to Southwest Airlines.
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