Southwest announced on Monday that it has concluded its final labor contract negotiation, bringing an end to a two-year process of contract renewals for its unionized workforce.
The latest agreement was ratified by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 19, representing the airline’s flight simulator technicians. The contract includes increased pay rates, a new job classification, and enhanced maternity and parental leave benefits, becoming amendable in September 2028.
“At Southwest, we pride ourselves in nurturing an Employee-first Culture, and one of the ways we do that is through the pay and benefits we provide to all of our Employees,” CEO Bob Jordan said in a press release. “We are extremely pleased that all of our union-represented workgroups now have contracts in place to provide for their futures while we continue our work to build a sustainable and profitable future for the airline, our Employees, and all of our Shareholders.”
With the completion of this agreement, Southwest has now finalized labor contracts with all 12 of its unionized workgroups, encompassing approximately 83% of its employees.
Earlier this year, the airline and its pilots – represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association – inked a new collective bargaining agreement valued at $12 billion. In April, the airline’s flight attendants also ratified a new contract, which provided immediate pay increases of roughly 22%.
