Southwest Airlines pilots union is seeking a Max-imum raise. The airline is currently the launch customer for the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, but the pilots are stating that they will not fly the airplanes without a new contract. The Boeing 737 Max is not current specified in the existing labor contract, as the airplane did not exist at the time that contract was signed. Southwest Airlines is claiming that the new Max is the same as the current version of the existing 737, with the exception of an updated engine and landing gear, so it does fall under the existing contract. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association just rejected a new contract proposal last November. New negotiations are scheduled to begin between the two sides next months. Delivery of the first aircraft is currently scheduled for the third quarter of 2017.
Southwest Airlines pilots new contract negotiations
The airline and the Southwest Airlines pilots union failed to disclose the terms of the proposed contract that was rejected. Southwest is trying to curb rising costs with increased productivity as part of its pay raise proposal. The existing contract was signed in 2012, and both parties are bound by that contract until a new one is signed. This means that any changes outside of the current contract scope would have to be negotiated into a new contract to be effective. The airlines position is that the new 737 Max is the same aircraft type as Boeing’s 737-800 specified in the current union contract. The Southwest Airlines pilots union says the existing contract agreement states that each aircraft type to be flown by the pilots is clearly listed by type and model number. This would leave the only real solution to be a new contract that is agreeable to both parties. Southwest wants to use the new aircraft to cut the higher costs of flying its less fuel efficient older 737 models. The aim is to remove all the 737-300 and 737-500 models from the airlines fleet by the middle of 2018. Boeing’s rollout schedule for the Max has been ahead of schedule. This is most likely due to the fact that there are minimal changes to the aircraft over the previous generation. The Federal Aviation Administration has yet to make a decision on whether or not pilots currently qualified to fly Boeing’s 737-700 and 737-800 models will be automatically certified to fly the new Max aircraft. If not, they will be required to be re-trained on the newer type.
