© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A Southwest Airlines passenger flight takes off from San Diego International Airport in San Diego, California, U.S., February 3, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
(Reuters) – Southwest Airlines (NYSE:) said on Wednesday it has reached a tentative agreement with its flight attendants’ union for a new contract covering nearly 20,000 cabin crew members.
The airline’s flight attendants had been demanding higher pay and better work rules in the new contract. The previous contract came up for renewal in 2018.
In the past two years, unions across the aerospace, construction, airline and rail industries have demanded higher wages and more benefits in a tight labor market.
The Transport Workers Union’s local chapter, representing the flight attendants, will present details of the agreement directly to the cabin crew members for a ratification vote.
Southwest Airlines’ cabin crew members approved a strike mandate in January after rejecting a tentative contract.
The airline has ratified contracts with nine worker groups since October 2022.
