More than 1,300 Southwest Pilots Protest Contract in Dallas

Off-duty, uniformed pilots lined the sidewalks at Dallas-Love Field hoping for movement on a new contract.

Michael Wildes

Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 05:54 PM ET

Verified

Southwest Airlines hires 9,600 pilots. [Courtesy: Southwest Airlines]

Key Takeaways:

Over 1,300 off-duty Southwest Airlines pilots picketed at Dallas Love Field, demanding a new contract and expressing frustration over unresolved pay, work rules, and excessive schedule changes.
The pilots' union (SWAPA) proposed a new contract nearly 900 days ago, with the current contract having been amendable since September 2020.
The protest, a permitted action under the Railway Labor Act (which prevents outright strikes), highlights growing pilot discontent at Southwest and is supported by pilots from other major airlines facing similar labor disputes.

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More than 1,300 off-duty but uniformed pilots of Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) lined up along the sidewalks of the Dallas Love Field Airport (KDAL) Tuesday to demand a new contract. Despite sweltering heat nearing 100 degrees, some of the pilots—who in total represent 8 percent of the Dallas-based airline’s 9,600 pilot workforce—brought their families along to protest as well.

The family that Informational Pickets together, stays together. Proud to stand with my family — along with 1,300 other Southwest Airlines Pilots Association Union members in Dallas today — who 896 days ago proposed a new, industry-leading contract. #IStandWithSWAPA pic.twitter.com/T9CtWeOJKE