Pilots with Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) approved strike authorization for the union after a period of eleven days of voting ended on Thursday.
The Southwest Pilots Association’s announced a 98% participation rate with 99% of pilots voting to authorize a strike.
The pilot union pointed to operational disasters at Southwest Airlines (LUV) and the lack of progress after three-plus years of stagnant negotiations. “Our pilots are tired of apologizing to our passengers on behalf of a company that refuses to place its priorities on its internal and external customers,” noted SWAPA President Casey Murray.
Earlier in May, members of an union representing American Airlines Group (AAL) pilots approved a strike mandate as well. Strike authorizations in the airline industry rarely lead to full walkouts and the negotiations are expected to continue.
Shares of Southwest Airlines (LUV) turned lower when the vote was disclosed, but tracked back and were showing just a 0.77% decline at 2:10 p.m. The airline stock is down about 25% since its major operations disruption in late December.