Protest Draws 1,300 Southwest Pilots

Ranks of uniformed Southwest Airlines pilots gathered beneath the scorching Texas sun at Dallas Love Field to picket in protest of their treatment by the airline.

The show of solidarity drew approximately 1,300 pilots, many of whom carried signs blaming Southwest management for delays and cancellations that have upset passengers. Southwest's operation: From first to worse, one sign read, while another, more prosaic banner posited, Our passengers and pilots deserve better.

In a statement online, the Southwest Airlines Pilot Association stated the following six reasons for the protest:

• 896 - Number of days since SWAPA proposed a new, industry-leading contract to attract the next generation of aviators.
• 1984 - The last year that Southwest Airlines made any meaningful improvements to CBA language covering maternity leave for Pilots.
• 20,000 - Number of days off Pilots have lost to schedule mismanagement over the last 12 months.
• 164,084 - Number of days over the last 12 months that SWAPA Pilots have voluntarily flown on days off to get SWA passengers to their desired destinations.
• 312,084 - Number of times SWAPA Pilots' schedules have been changed over the last 12 months.
• 110,915,000 - Number of passengers SWAPA Pilots have carried safely to their destinations over the last year.

Capt. Casey Murray, a Southwest pilot and president of the SWAPA stated, "Our pilots have had to address the fatigue issue with management publicly, which is something that we never want to do, but ultimately, our pilots have been tired and have been trying to do everything they can.”

The Southwest pilot protest is the latest instance of airline pilots trying to pressure carriers by taking their demands for higher pay directly to the flying public.

Last week, in an open letter to Delta Air Lines customers, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) stated its members empathized with travelers whose flights were delayed or canceled. ALPA blamed Delta management for the ongoing debacle, alleging the airline has scheduled more flights than it has pilots to fly, and pointing out that Delta pilots are working record overtime hours.

American Airlines pilots holding signs reading Frustrated with AA? So are we recently picketed at major airports and near the New York Stock Exchange.

Such instances illustrate union efforts to win pilots increases in wages and benefits by leveraging public sentiment and the characteristically strong demand for summer travel.

FMI: https://www.southwest.com