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Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson stresses the need for increased federal assistance “to keep people in their jobs” and connected to health care, as well as to maintain service to communities.
Southwest Airlines, which has never laid off a worker in its 49-year history, informed 6,828 employees on Thursday that they could be involuntarily fired next year.
The airline has negotiated cost-cutting measures with the unions, but due to “a lack of significant progress” time off may be necessary.
“We are prepared to continue negotiations expeditiously to preserve jobs if we can secure the support that enables Southwest to tackle the current economic challenges created by declining demand for air travel,” said Russell McCrady, vice president labor relations at Southwest. A declaration.
The DOT FINALIZES THE RULE DEFINING THE “ UNFAIR AND TRUMPING ” PRACTICES OF THE COMPANIES
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The coronavirus pandemic has crushed the airline industry as traffic remains 65% lower than it was in 2019, according to a letter the chief executives of seven airlines sent to Congress last month.
The Southwest leave would include 1,500 flight attendants, 1,221 pilots, 1,176 customer service agents and others.
If negotiations fail, the involuntary leave will take effect on March 15 or April 1, or within 14 days of the date of the leave. Southwest Airlines said jobs could also be saved with additional government assistance.
U.S. airlines received $ 25 billion earlier this year under the CARES Act, but that money expired in early October.
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The holidays provide a brief reprieve for airlines, with the TSA screening 1,176,091 people on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, which was the highest number of passengers since March.
The increase was worrying for health officials, however, with Dr Anthony Fauci of the White House Coronavirus Task Force commenting that we could see a “skyrocket” in coronavirus infections as a result.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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