Dear Sisters and Brothers:
IAM District Lodge 142 members at Southwest Airlines have voted to overwhelmingly ratify a strong collective bargaining agreement with wage increases that will place our members at the top of the airline industry’s pay scale.
District Lodge 142 represents approximately 8,300 Customer Service Employees at Southwest Airlines, including Customer Representatives, Customer Service Agents, and Source of Support Representatives.
“IAM members at Southwest Airlines stood together in solidarity to get the best deal in the airline industry,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “We were focused on securing an agreement that would make our members at Southwest Airlines the highest-paid workers in the airline industry. Ratifying this historic deal was good for our members and the customers who trust and fly Southwest Airlines.”
“Our members were crystal clear on what they wanted to see in this agreement from Southwest Airlines,” said IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John M. Coveny Jr. “Our members should be proud knowing that they ratified an industry-leading contract as a result of their dedication and solidarity throughout the process.”
“As a Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent who came up through the ranks, I understand how this industry-leading agreement will impact the lives of thousands of my brothers, sisters, and siblings at Southwest Airlines,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “I am extremely proud of our communication with the membership to get this deal done. I applaud Southwest Airlines and our IAM leadership for making this historic agreement possible.”
“The goal of the IAM negotiating team and membership was to get a deal that would garner the dignity and respect our members at Southwest Airlines deserve,” said IAM Airline Coordinator Tom Regan. “This agreement puts our members at the top of the industry and creates a career path for the new members joining the IAM and Southwest Airlines.”
All of us at District 142 would like to thank our negotiating team consisting of Grand Lodge Representatives, DL 142 Leadership and DL 142 General Chairs Oralia “Lollie” Beecher, April Butler, Kenny Champagne, Lorraine Fraser, and Carrie Lessley, for their hard work and diligence. Thank you to our Southwest Airlines membership for standing together in solidarity. With best wishes we remain
Sincerely and fraternally,
John M. Coveny, Jr.
President-Directing General Chair
Oralia “Lollie” Beecher
General Chair
April Butler
General Chair
Kenny Champagne
General Chair
Lorraine Fraser
General Chair
Carrie Lessley
General Chair
