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No acknowledgement of trying to coerce their crew: https://twitter.com/AtSouthwest/status/1606543397996855296 https://twitter.com/AtSouthwest/status/16065433979

• nocoiner 4y ago
  I’m pretty sure this was written in order to invoke provisions of the relevant (unionized) employees’ collective bargaining agreement. When I first read it, I was shocked at the tone and outraged on behalf of the employees, but upon re-reading, I’m pretty sure this is Southwest trying to address staffing needs within the confines of its agreements with the union representing Denver ramp workers. I’m all for maintaining a healthy balance between labor and capital (and indeed, think that balance is pretty far out of whack in favor of capital in the United States), but my read of this situation is that management was invoking previously negotiated procedures to require unionized employees to comply with with abnormal working requirements during a state of operational emergency. These employees would have been worse off if Southwest hadn’t had union-negotiated procedures they had to follow before having the right to impose adverse employment consequences that all at-will employees are subject to. Also, to be clear: I’m not absolving management for the obvious operational failures. From what I see at this point, this situation sure seems likely to warrant executive accountability and regulatory inquiries. And finally, I feel very badly for everyone - travelers and employees - who had a shitty holiday season due to this incredible SNAFU.