March 9, 2020
We have been advised by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that our first negotiations session with Mediator Victoria Gray will be held March 10 through 12 in Kansas City, Missouri. We look forward to Ms. Gray’s assistance in obtaining the contract you – the membership — deserve.
We understand many members will have questions regarding the mediation process. The Negotiating Committee is planning station visits and attending local lodge meetings between negotiation sessions in order to explain how mediation works and answer general questions about our negotiations to date. The Committee will also be available to give guidance on the outstanding issues which are preventing us from obtaining an industry leading contract from an industry leading airline. Stewards will be advised of dates and times of respective visits on a week to week basis. We have many stations, and only a handful of Committee Members, so please bear with us as we travel the system – we will get to all locations – it just may take some time.
In an effort to address concerns and questions, we have established an email address that members at Southwest can write to and get their specific questions answered. That email address is: iam-swa-negotiations@iamdl142.org
Feel free to submit your questions or concerns to this email address. Please provide a phone number and PERSONAL email address and one of the negotiators will contact you to answer your questions.
Now, more than ever, we must all be unified, and we ask for everyone’s support as we continue in this process. Educating our members will help in this effort. Please take the time to attend these meetings when our team is in your station and submit your questions to the email address. Together, we will get a contract we are all proud of which addresses the concerns you told us were most important – improving your quality of life!
Sincerely and fraternally,
Dave Supplee
PRESIDENT & DIRECTING
GENERAL CHAIR
