Southwest Airlines Pilot Union Requests Authority to Strike

The pilot union of Southwest Airlines Co. has asked for a strike authorization vote, weeks after a technology failure at the airline delayed tens of thousands of customers throughout the United States.

According to the airline, the proposed vote would have no impact on operations and is "not an indicator of an imminent labor stoppage."

As major U.S. airlines strive to capitalize on surging consumer demand as the sector returns to profitability, pilots at all major U.S. carriers have demanded more pay and a more balanced work-life balance.

Capt. Casey Murray, president of Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) Pilot Association (SWAPA), stated in a statement, "It is not a choice we have made lightly, but given the direction of our present leadership group, we have little trust in the stability and future of our airline."

The strike authorization vote will begin on May 1 and continue until the end of the month, according to SWAPA, which represents over 10,000 pilots.

Southwest Airlines' vice president of labor relations, Adam Carlisle, said, "We will continue to follow the procedure provided in the Railway Labor Act and engage with the National Mediation Board to reach an agreement."

"The anticipated union vote has no effect on our continuing efforts at the negotiation table. The mediation is expected to reconvene on January 24."

Southwest pilots and the airline have been in contract negotiations for nearly three years.

Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) gave its pilots a 34% cumulative wage boost over three years in a new contract last month, after the Atlanta-based airline's pilots voted overwhelmingly to approve a strike in October.

Pilots have referred to Delta's proposal as the standard for other contracts.