Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines have ratified a contract that includes wage increases totaling more than 33% over four years, as airline workers continue to benefit from the industry’s recovery from the pandemic.
The Transportation Workers Union said Wednesday that Local 556 members approved the contract by a margin of 81% to 19%. The union’s board rejected a lower offer last summer, and flight attendants voted against a second proposal in December.
Southwest has about 20,000 flight attendants. They will get raises of more than 22% on May 1 and annual raises of 3% in each of the following three years.
The union said the contract provides record earnings for flight attendants and sets a standard for other flight attendants. Cabin crews United Airlines And American airlineswho are represented by other unions, still negotiate contracts.
The union said the agreement gives Southwest crews the shortest duty day and highest pay in the industry, compensation for disruptions like the Southwest crisis in December 2022 and paid maternity and parental leave for the first time in the industry. 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 make it easier for the airline to operate.
Pilot unions at Delta, United, American and Southwest approved contracts last year that raised wages by more than a third over several years. This week, Delta said its flight attendants and other non-union workers would benefit 5% increase.
