FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2006
CONTACT:
Karen Absalom
Director, Member Communications
Southwest Airlines Pilots Association
kabsalom@swapa.org 214-722-4231
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PILOTS CONSIDER CONTRACT OPENING, CODESHARE
Southwest Airlines pilots today began voting on a referendum that will determine a schedule for upcoming formal contract negotiations and allow pilots to consider a one-year extension of the current contract amendable date to Aug. 31, 2007.
While the referendum continues for the next 30 days, the Associations Negotiating Committee is beginning discussions with Southwest Airlines company officials on a codeshare side agreement. SWAPA has been involved in talks with the company on codeshare since SWA entered into a codeshare agreement with ATA in late 2004.
Our current contract does not have any language addressing codesharing in general or the codeshare agreement with ATA specifically, SWAPA Vice President, Capt. Carl Kuwitzky, said. Upheavals throughout the rest of the airline industry have triggered mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies focusing much attention on Southwest and our profitability. SWAPA wants to ensure, should codesharing continue with ATA or future partners, that it will result in continued fleet growth for Southwest Airlines and thus benefit our pilots.
The pilots current contract was negotiated in 1994 and extended in 2002 with an amendable date of Aug. 31, 2006. Under Railway Labor Act provisions, airline contracts do not expire. Rather, they become amendable or subject to change upon request by either the pilots union or the company.
The Associations Negotiating Committee is conducting ongoing discussions with company officials on issues related to codeshare. Codeshare is an agreement between two airlines that allows them to jointly market a flight operated by either or both of the airlines.
Southwest Airlines entered into a codeshare agreement with ATA Airlines as part of bankruptcy emergence for ATA that allowed Southwest to acquire some ATA assets. The move also allowed Southwest to expand its marketing territory with connecting ATA service to New York City LaGuardia, Washington, D.C. Reagan, Dallas-Ft. Worth International and Hawaii.
SWAPA, headquartered in Dallas, TX, is an independent U nion which represents the more than 50 00 pilots of Southwest Airlines.