Published 29 Feb, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 29, 2016
CONTACT: Ori Korin, (202) 719-3834
Victory for TWU Local 557: Flight Crew Training Instructors at Southwest Airlines Ratify Contract
Members of The Transport Workers Union of America Local 557 ratified a new contract with Southwest Airlines yesterday by nearly 70 percent, with an impressive 90.9 percent of the membership turning out to vote. The agreement provides for structural increases each year, with a 5 percent signing bonus to be paid after ratification. The local represents flight crew training instructors at Southwest Airlines.
According to TWU International Vice President Gary Shults, who helped negotiate the deal, “We really bucked industry trends here, because we never had to discuss major concessions, and that made the process much easier.” Shults went on to explain, “We were able to address scheduling needs and increase our members’ annual income at the same time. Both TWU and Southwest came to the table prepared to get this agreement done, and that made all the difference for the hardworking men and women in Local 557.”