Strikes and pay raises: Airline pilot contract negotiations continue

Southwest pilots will hold a strike vote

Many of the major U. S. airlines are going through contract negotiations with their pilots, and Delta's union recently announced a preliminary deal that could set the bar for the rest of those talks, promising major pay raises in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Southwest pilots are gearing up to approve a strike this spring ( more on why you don't need to panic about that below).

Discussions between management and the unions continue at American Airlines and United Airlines.

The wheeling and dealing is unlikely to have a major impact on travelers, especially as airlines report record profits, but pilot pay increases could drive up costs for carriers, which could result in higher ticket prices in the long term.

It should be fine: Southwest pilots prepare for strike vote

Southwest Airlines pilots are set to hold a vote to authorize a strike this spring. The polls will open to union members on May 1 and be counted at the end of that month.

“I think it is best to consider what our customers have been through over the past several years and the past several weeks. It was the lack of discussion or commitment by our leadership team to rectify these issues for our passengers and our pilots that drove us to make the decision to carry forward on this path afforded to us by the Railway Labor Act,” Southwest Airlines Pilots Association president, Casey Murray said in a statement. “It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but given the trajectory of our current leadership group, we have little faith in the stability and future of our airline.”

Keep in mind: Even a resounding vote to authorize a strike does not automatically mean a strike will actually take place. The National Labor Relations Board requires a 30- day cooling- off period following a vote, and pilots and management have historically been hesitant to pursue such drastic actions, even with approval.

Delta pilots held a similar vote in October with a large majority voting in favor of authorizing the action, but they continued to fly as usual while contract negotiations proceeded.

Delta deal could mean big payday

Delta Air Lines' pilot union reached a tentative deal with company management on a new contract that would give its pilots pay raises of more than 30% over four years.

Union representatives are preparing to present full details of the agreement to the airline's pilots in the coming weeks, and a vote to ratify will take place between Jan. 31 and March 1.

If they vote to approve the deal, Delta pilots will receive an 18% pay increase on the day the contract is signed, followed by a 5% increase one year later and two 4% raises in each subsequent year. The proposed contract also includes a one- time payment of 4% of 2020 and 2021 pay each, plus 14% of 2022 pay.

As negotiations continue at other airlines, these numbers could preview what their pilots might push for.