Published 19 May, 2011
While Southwest Airlines shareholders were inside company headquarters in Dallas, TX on May 18 holding their annual meeting and discussing executive bonuses, members of TWU Local 550, who are dispatchers at Southwest, rallied outside for a new contract that recognizes their years of hard work.
A group of Local 550 members and fellow TWU members held an informational picket to spread the message that dispatchers deserve some “LUV” and want a contract that provides decent wages and working conditions.
“We are all long term employees of this company and we do love this company and we’re very happy to see it prosper,” said TWU Local 550 president Mike Connor. “We just want to share in that success.”
The contract became amendable in 2009 after the previous 12-year contract expired. The dispatchers are the last work group without a contract and they want an agreement that shares the company’s prosperity and provides decent jobs to the 184 dispatchers who make Southwest planes operate smoothly every single day.
“We have been great servant warriors for this last 14 years and kept this company operating efficiently, smoothly, and safely,” said Connor.
“I have no problem whatsoever with our officers being rewarded with the success of Southwest Airlines. I think it’s only fair that we participate as well,” said Local 550 member Steve Papaila.