Southwest Airlines offered a statement in response to today’s “no” vote by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Airlines Division, representing more than 170 Southwest Airlines Stock Clerks:
“We are disappointed that our hard-working Stock Clerks rejected the tentative agreement negotiated between the IBT and Southwest Airlines, " said Mike Van de Ven, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Southwest Airlines. “As always, Southwest will respect the labor negotiation process and negotiate in good faith when the bargaining process resumes in an effort to seek a contract that is in the best interest of Employees, our Customers, our Shareholders, and our Company."
The rejected tentative agreement was for a new, five-year contract through August 16, 2013. The current contract became amendable on August 16, 2008. In the last 13 months, Southwest has worked with five unions to bring labor agreements covering more than 30,000 Employees to a successful conclusion.
Southwest Airlines Media Contact: 214/792-4847
