Southwest Airlines Pilots Move Toward Possible Strike

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) — Pilots for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines are considering a possible strike.

SWAPA President Captain Casey Murray issued a call for a Strike Authorization Vote from the Association’s membership on Wednesday.

The move comes in the wake of Southwest’s holiday travel season meltdown that led to thousands of cancellations. Scheduling and daily operations at the airline were blamed.

“While your Board of Directors and Executive Officers have had many strategic discussions on timing, I think it is best to consider what our customers have been through over the past several years and the past several weeks,” said Captain Murray. “It was the lack of discussion or commitment by our leadership team to rectify these issues for our passengers and our pilots that drove us to make the decision to carry forward on this path afforded to us by the Railway Labor Act.”

SWAPA Pilots have never before been forced to hold an SAV, but due to the lack of leadership and progress with regard to negotiations, we find ourselves in a sadly historic time.https://t.co/2vaujQ8Jzc
— Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (@swapapilots) January 18, 2023

The vote will take place beginning on May 1 and will ultimately give the pilots the ability to strike.

“We believe that May 1 provides a date that allows our union time to prepare and gives our customers time to book elsewhere, so that they can have confidence that their summer vacations, honeymoons, and family outings are assured.”

The vote will be counted at the end of May.