The Southwest Airlines pilots union has voted to authorize a strike, if necessary, it was announced Thursday.
The Dallas-based company and union do not expect their labor negotiations to result in a strike, both sides said.
The move gives the pilots negotiating strength as the airline flies into busy summer travel months. The union said it is still negotiating with the airline.
Strike authorization voting started May 1. More than 99% of those who voted favored the authorization, the union said.
“Today, our Pilots have empowered our Negotiating Committee Chair, Captain Jody Reven, to petition the National Mediation Board to release us to self-help imminently at which time we will follow the process set forth by the Railway Labor Act and continue toward a strike,” pilots union president Casey Murray said.
“We want our passengers to understand that we do not take this path lightly and are disheartened that the LUV airline has gotten so far away from the values set forth by Herb Kelleher.”
Kelleher was the founder of Southwest, whose stock symbol is LUV.
Southwest said the vote would not impact its operations.
Southwest also said the vote “has no impact on our scheduled operations” heading into the summer travel season.
“Our negotiating team remains focused on ongoing discussions and continuing to make progress toward a new agreement for our pilots,” Southwest officials said in a statement Thursday. “Southwest and the pilots’ union (SWAPA) remain in mediation, which is overseen by the National Mediation Board,” the statement concluded, emphasizing their commitment to finding a resolution through the mediation process.
