The ballots for the TWU Convention Delegate election were mailed on Monday, June 16, 2025. The Board of Elections has compiled a list of frequently asked questions that we have received from Members regarding the election and ballots.
The safety and security of our Passengers, aircraft, and Crew Members weigh heavily on our shoulders. Because of this, not being fully functional (mentally or physically) due to fatigue is a risk not worth taking. Because TWU Local 556, Southwest Airlines, and the FAA take the health and well-being of our Flight Attendants first and foremost, contractual language and processes have been established to mitigate fatigue issues. Below you will find resources created by our Union to explain our fatigue policy, as well as how to report fatigue concerns in a less daunting and more simplified way.
The 2025 TWU International Convention Delegate Election is right around the corner, and we’re writing to share a few important updates. Most notably, there has been a change to the mailing date for Convention Delegate ballots. Rest assured, this update still allows for a 39-day period from mailing until tabulation. Please see the full statement from our TWU Local 556 Board of Elections (BOE) below.
We’re also including a quick overview of the best ways to stay informed and engaged through this election process.
The TWU Local 556 Scheduling Committee meets twice per month in Dallas to create the lines (not pairings) that Flight Attendants bid each month. At times, not all pairings are able to be placed on lines and these pairings are left in Open Time. Below you will find the number of pairings left in Open Time in each domicile. This information is provided each month to assist Members in the trading plans.
While there is no immediate danger to our Flight Crews, we wanted to make all Crews aware that should you have a trip that begins, ends, or overnights in Los Angeles, be prepared for protest activity that could cause disruptions.
From a Safety and Security perspective, we recommend always remaining with your Crew when you transit to and from the overnight or commuter hotels, consider using crew transportation, and avoid walking from the airport to the hotels when possible. It goes without saying, especially while on duty or overnight, you should plan accordingly to avoid safety risks or disruptions. Your Union Leadership, including President Kristina Peterson, Los Angeles Domicile Executive Board Member Angel Figueroa, and Safety Committee Chairperson Chris Click, are in contact with Southwest Airlines Los Angeles Base Leadership and Safety and Security Leaders at Southwest Airlines.
Of course, if you have a question or duty concern while at work, be sure to contact Network Operations Control at 1 (800) 447-9291 (press 3 for Inflight Information, then press 8 for the NOC Base Manager).
Summertime is not usually when we see voluntary leave options offered by Inflight Crew Scheduling and/or Inflight Crew Planning. During the past few weeks, however, TWU Local 556 Members have seen Daily Release Time (DRT) and Secondary Daily Release Time (SDRT) slots available. When you consider your voluntary time off options, it’s important that you know the difference between each of these programs, when they can be offered, and how the award process works. In this week’s TWU Local 556 Education Committee email, we dive into DRT, SDRT, and even break down the Advanced Notice DRT (AN-DRT) Letter of Agreement (LOA). Let’s look at Article 10.6 language and discuss how this quality of life language allows our Flight Attendants to adjust their schedules utilizing these contractual options.
