Fourth union joins in no-confidence drive against Southwest Airlines CEO

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Denver Post-Bloomberg

Southwest Airlines Co. baggage handlers and airport ground-operations workers have joined other labor groups in calling for the ouster of CEO Gary Kelly over flight disruptions and what they call the misguided use of cash.

Leaders of Transport Workers Union Local 555 approved a resolution calling for the replacement of Kelly and chief operating officer Mike Van de Ven, president Greg Puriski said in an interview Wednesday. Labor groups representing Southwest’s flight attendants, pilots and mechanics this week also have called for the two executives to step aside.

The unions criticized Kelly for spending billions of dollars on stock buybacks instead of plowing the money into updates of the airline’s aging computer system and for focusing too much on cost controls. The unions represent about 36,000 of Southwest’s 52,300 full-time workers, based on company numbers. Pilots, flight attendants and mechanics are in contract talks with Southwest.

“The culture of Southwest is just not the way it used to be,” said Puriski, whose union represents workers who load bags and cargo onto planes, direct aircraft at gates, stock planes with food and beverages and oversee onboard weights and balance. “It’s profits before people now, which is very disheartening. We just don’t like the direction of our company.”

FULL story at link.


Associated Press file Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/03/union-no-confidence-southwest-ceo/

[Gman]

1. When a large figure like Herb Kelleher leaves

Institutional memory goes with them. Now there are people at the top who don't believe in the formula Kelleher used that made SWA successful and which still will work.

[WhiteTara]

2. I'm sad to see this. Southwest used to be

my favorite airline.