Southwest Airlines and facilities maintenance technicians, represented by Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, recently reached an agreement for the technicians’ first contract.
The agreement stipulates detailed work rules, a wage scale, and a bonus. If ratified, the contract will be valid for five years.
The agreement must first be reviewed by the association’s National Executive Committee and voted on by the committee’s 37 members. A date has yet to set for the ratification vote.
“I am thankful that both negotiating teams were able to come together and finalize a new agreement that recognizes our Facilities Maintenance Technicians and supports the needs of our operations,” Russell McCrady, Southwest’s vice president labor relations, said. “I appreciate our Facilities Maintenance Technicians and their many contributions to the success of Southwest Airlines.”
Operational issues at Southwest, however, caused the airline to be last among the four largest carriers for on-time arrivals in August.
A flight is considered on time, according to U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines, if it arrives at the gate within 14 minutes of its scheduled arrival time.
For much of August, Southwest had an on-time rate of approximately 60 percent. It finished the month at 70.5 percent. The airline averaged a rate of approximately 75 percent for the first half of the year.