Southwest Airlines Pilots Set Strike Authorization Vote to ‘Wake Up’ Company Officials

Members of Southwest Airlines Pilots Association protest company prioritizing stock buybacks over labor contracts outside the New York Stock Exchange on Dec. 7, 2022. (SWAPA)SWAPA

Southwest Airlines pilots have set a “historic” strike-authorization vote following a lack of progress in contract negotiations and a massive operational meltdown.

In a Jan. 18 announcement, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) stated that a vote has been scheduled to begin on May 1 and that it “will ultimately give pilots the ability to strike.” The union, which represents about 10,000 pilots, stated that this will be the first time in the airline’s 51-year history that such a vote will be held.