A union representing Southwest Airlines flight attendants voted to authorize a strike on Tuesday, after the members rejected a contract deal put forward by the union in December.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556 announced that 98 percent of its members voted to authorize a strike for the first time in its history. The union represents more than 15,000 Southwest Airline flight attendants across 11 different bases.
“98% YES sends a strong message of solidarity. We will do whatever it takes to get a Contract that recognizes our contributions to the success of our co.,” the union wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
Members of TWU Local 556 rejected a contract reached by their union and Southwest Airlines last month, The Associated Press reported. The contract was struck down in a vote with 64 percent of members opposing it.
“We will go back to the table to achieve the collective bargaining agreement that meets the needs of the hardest-working flight attendants in the industry,” Lyn Montgomery, the union president, said in a statement at the time.
The Hill has reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment.
The Associated Press contributed.
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