UPDATE 2-Lawsuit accuses Southwest Airlines of flouting union bargaining duties during pandemic

(Adds Southwest statement)

By Daniel Wiessner and Rajesh Kumar Singh

Aug 31 (Reuters) – A union representing pilots from Southwest Airlines Co has filed a lawsuit against forced vacation and other changes in working conditions imposed by the airline during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association filed a complaint in federal court in Dallas on Monday alleging that Southwest should have negotiated collective bargaining with the union rather than granting itself “force majeure” rights when air traffic collapsed during the pandemic.

The union claims Southwest implemented an “emergency program”, changed schedules, and cut prescription drugs and retirement benefits without negotiation, in violation of federal labor law.

It applied to the court for an injunction compelling the airline to adhere to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, which expired on August 31, 2020, until a new agreement is reached.

In an email to its members on Tuesday, the union said the lawsuit was the “only way” to force the company to comply with its duty to bargain collectively.

Russell McCrady, Southwest Vice President of Labor Relations, said in a statement that the airline disagreed that any changes decided in recent months related to COVID should be negotiated.

“As always, Southwest remains committed to the health and wellbeing of pilots and to working with SWAPA and our other union partners as we continue to address the challenges of the ongoing pandemic,” he said. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in New York and Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; editing by Bill Berkrot, Richard Chang and Mark Porter)

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