Southwest Airlines’ pilots union and mechanics union called for the removal of CEO Gary Kelly and COO Mike Van de Ven because the leaders continue making “poor decision after poor decision.”
The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association voted 20-0 in a vote of no confidence Friday, which was agreed upon by the association’s board of directors and supported by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.
Capt. Jon Weaks, president of Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association, said in a written statement that, “as tenured employees and front line leaders of this company, we can no longer sit idly by and watch poor decision after poor decision deeply affect our customers and Southwest Airlines,” He continued, “we believe that a change is needed for the best interests of Southwest Airlines and the loyal customers we serve.”
Louie Key, national director of Southwest’s mechanics union, criticized the company for a July 20 technical failure that led to the cancellation of over 2,300 flights and caused widespread disruption for the traveling public as well as Southwest’s flight crews and employees. Key called the July 20 incident, “the last straw.”
Key said in a statement that, “The current leadership has dragged out our contract negotiations for nearly four years, eroded the company culture that employees hold dear, and continued to put Band-Aids on its operational systems rather than invest in company upgrades.”
Southwest Airlines’ Senior Vice President of Labor Relations Randy Babbit said in a statement to Fortune Magazine that the association’s vote of no confidence is not about any of the reasons outlined by Weaks, but actually about, “the union’s approach to contract discussions and its attempt to gain leverage in negotiations.” The pilots have requested a contract that is in line with those at the three other “Big Four” domestic airlines.
Southwest employees are currently undergoing intense negotiations with management. The pilots and mechanics have been engaged in collective bargaining and contract negotiations for over four years and claim that they are not being compensated justly while Southwest earns record profits.
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