Southwest Airlines is offering bigger raises and sign-on bonuses to help secure a deal with one of its largest labor groups after coming to a proposed contract agreement with the union representing 8,300 customer service workers.
The new deal would give 16% to 25% wage increases over five years and signing bonuses of at least $1,000 and better overtime protections to customer service representatives, customer service agents and source of support representatives at the airline.
The deal is a 5.5% to 13% wage improvement from the contract that union members “overwhelmingly rejected” in May. That left airline and union leaders searching for solutions that would satisfy one of the company’s largest labor groups.
