During a flight this week, I spoke with some flight attendants about their happiness with the carrier – some are ready to strike like their industry peers.
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.
If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.
Some Flight Attendants Are Not Happy
Onboard a flight this week with Southwest Airlines, I had an opportunity to ask some of them onboard if they are happy at work. Southwest employees have historically been some of the most satisfied employees in the business, but as of late, several labor groups from Southwest have expressed that is no longer the case.
I used an example of American Airlines flight attendants when framing my question.
“[93% of] American Airlines flight attendants voted overwhelmingly [99.5%] to strike. Are you happy at work? Are other Southwest flight attendants happy?” – Me
“No. We are not happy. We have been waiting for a new contract for five years.” one said.
“Let me show you something.” A second FA moves across the galley and opens a compartment with their bag inside. They showed me a very large bright red baggage tag (the same size and style as a ‘remove before flight’ tag) the words in all caps: READY TO STRIKE.
They indicated that other FAs agreed and demonstrated little doubt that the union would take labor action if the airline didn’t soon come to the table with a meaningful offer.
Why So Much Unrest Across The Industry?
There are a few common themes throughout some of the labor strife that this site has covered in recent months. The first is that contracts are well behind schedule. Both Southwest and American FAs as well as pilots for both carriers have stated that contracts are long overdue.
Another reason is that the travel industry has been slammed with full flights and heavy demand for the last couple of years. Since their last contract, flight attendants have been on the front lines dealing with COVID, and passengers have become increasingly hostile. Issues with technological reliability caused an utter nightmare during the holidays for Southwest, and airlines have never been busier.
Lastly, wages don’t go as far as they used to. While raises have come under fire, there’s no question that inflation has hit every earner hard, especially those who cannot enjoy raises during that period like other employee groups.
Conclusion
Speaking with Southwest Airlines flight attendants this week enlightened me to their contract challenges with management. They share similar struggles with other industry peers and have warned they are ready to strike. While the labor group has not formally held a vote to strike, they appear to be very unhappy and willing to make their voices heard. Whether Southwest is able to avoid a public tussle with flight attendants remains to be seen.
What do you think?
Herb used to say: “Happy employees, happy customers.”
If Southwest FAs have been waiting 5 years for a raise, that’s an effective pay cut of 25% after inflation. And don’t gloat, if your take-home pay hasn’t gone up 25% since before Covid, well you’ve had a walloping pay cut too. Where did the money go? You know where it went – share buybacks, exec salaries, and asset inflation.
The murmurings of discontent about shrinking wages are not confined to FAs. Plenty of other trades are ready to bring their banners out of the cupboards too.
I sincerely wish them the best.
There is not a lot of skill or talent required to being a FA. Plenty of people would take those jobs. Break the union, hire lower paid FA’s, and cut your costs. That will help keep airfares low, and would add shareholder value.
Take a FA job for lower pay in this high inflation era we are in, and being away from home multiple nights or deadheading without pay to get home? FA’s starting pay is 20-27k a year…only get paid when the plane door shuts…. and putting up with disruptive argumentative individuals? And the solution is to find lower paid FA’s without the unions protection of corporate overworking and greed?
Wow Jim we’ll remember that when we are doing CPR on your white fat ass.
Jim you’ve no idea what flight attendants go through It is quite demanding We are there mainly for Long hours n some short nights And putting up with people like you!
Southwest management seems to be making lots of bad decisions these days. They are destroying the business that Herb built. They need to get back to what works, and it isn’t what been happening for several years.
Your article is wrong. American airlines pilots are working under a new contract.