Southwest Airlines came to a contract deal with the 170-member union that represents workers that clean airplanes, after the workers overwhelmingly rejected a contract this summer.
The new deal with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association gives immediate 12% raises to appearance technicians with at least four years of experience and will boost starting pay to $19.14 an hour by August 2026, according to a draft of the agreement shared with members.
It’s one of several lower-profile deals that Dallas-based Southwest is trying to get squared away, although the company has struggled to find success with labor groups such as customer service workers, flight dispatchers and aircraft cleaners. Meanwhile, pilots and flight attendants are in the midst of tense standoffs involving picketing at Dallas Love Field near corporate headquarters.
