Read the Room, Respect Our Contract: Protecting Your Boarding Rights

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Southwest Management needs to read the room — and read and respect our Contract. TWU Local 556 has reviewed the IIOTG that included the suggestion to “board early when able” and the statement that “choosing to board and push early remains one of the most effective ways to support the operation.” This is yet another “suggestion” that exploits our goodwill and chips away at our contractual rights.

The past year has placed increasing demands on Flight Attendants. Operational challenges continue to grow, and solutions too often depend on crews absorbing additional pressure rather than addressing systemic issues. Professionalism and teamwork have repeatedly carried the operation forward, but goodwill cannot be expected to offset flawed product rollouts or operational decisions that create frustration for passengers and strain on Crews.

Upper management is out of touch. Decisions are being made without facing the real-world implications or fully considering the strain and anxiety placed on you. They have diminished our flexibility, made our jobs harder, placed us once again directly in the line of fire with frustrated customers, and pitted workgroups against each other through poorly thought-out plans, all in the name of helping the company.

Southwest Airlines expects this because they’ve taken advantage of you time and again. This is not about refusing to help. It is about protecting what was fought for over decades of negotiations. We want Southwest to succeed and for our customers to have a great experience. But frustration continues to grow when policies are implemented without collaboration and without respect for our Contract.
To make a more informed decision and stand united in support of one another, read your contract, know your rights, and stand firm on the protections we secured together.

Reporting at the Beginning of the Day and on Turns (remaining on the same aircraft)

Article 8.2.A.1.c — A Flight Attendant is required to be at the aircraft 30 minutes prior to departure, and no more than 45 minutes prior to departure for working (not deadheading) Flight Attendants on Regulatory Requirements (RR) flights, 737 MAX 7 (150 seats), or scheduled -800 aircraft.

Your report time is not your boarding time. Protect your contractual rights!

From the Contract Q&A’s, which are negotiated and agreed upon:

Q&A – 8.10 Is my report time to the aircraft the same as commencement of boarding?

No. A Flight Attendant must be given enough time after reporting to complete required duties. If more time is needed, the “A” Flight Attendant will communicate with Ground Ops how much time the Crew needs and when passenger boarding can begin. Required duties include, but are not limited to: Stowing luggage, briefing with the Captain, required safety/security checks, and assuming boarding positions. Flight Attendants will not be required to board prior to the established reporting times outlined in Article 8.2.A.1.c. or prior to the originally scheduled arrival time of the inbound flight.

Article 8.2.A.1.c. (*New Language In The Pink Contract*)

Check-in times will include appropriate time for Flight Attendants to perform their pre-flight duties prior to the commencement of boarding.

Your Negotiating Committee fought for language that protects time to complete required pre-flight duties. This was done to ensure that, as safety professionals, you have the time that you need to do your job correctly without being rushed or pressured. Protect it!.

Article 8.2.A.1.i.

Flight Attendants will not be required to be in boarding positions for the outbound flight prior to the scheduled arrival time. However, the Company may reasonably require early boarding under critical circumstances.

From the Contract Q&As:

Q&A – 8.17 What are “critical circumstances,” and who can require early boarding? “Critical circumstances” refer to events that would affect the ability of the aircraft to depart as scheduled, such as severe weather moving in that could shut down airport operations, etc. Dispatch may direct the Captain to an early departure, which could require early boarding.

“Critical circumstances” are not operational issues such as excessive wheelchairs or full flights.

• As the “A” Flight Attendant, you must coordinate with the “B,” “C,” and “D” Flight Attendants to confirm everyone is ready to board.
• The “A” Flight Attendant notifies the Operations Agent when all Flight Attendants are ready for boarding to begin.
• All Flight Attendants are responsible for reporting irregularities during boarding and filing an ASAP if necessary.

Do not be misled into believing that boarding begins at any specific time or at report time. As Safety Professionals, boarding can only begin once all of our pre-flight duties are completed.

Southwest must work with our Union before rolling out flawed operational changes and must respect the agreements already in place. We will not allow further scope creep into our Contract.

During the last round of bargaining, the Company Negotiating Team brought to the table an issue that the forty-five (45) minute report time in our contract for -800 aircraft and Regulatory

Requirement flights was “too much time,” prior to scheduled departure. They proposed allowing for variable report times between thirty (30) and forty-five (45) minutes, but they would be required to provide ninety (90) days notice prior to building schedules. We negotiated the terms and they have the ability to enact it. They have chosen not to solve a problem they created.

Finally, and this cannot be overstated, early boarding must be a Crew decision.

Boarding earlier than the contractual 30-minute requirement is permissible only if all Flight Attendants agree and all required safety and security checks have been completed.

The views contained herein do not necessarily represent those of TWU Local 556 or TWU International. The purpose of this email communication is intended only to educate and inform TWU Local 556 Members. It is not intended to officially establish or clarify past practice, Contract language, or grievance/arbitration positions. It is therefore not to be utilized or relied upon by any person or party as evidence of the Union’s position on any past practices, Contract language, grievances/arbitrations, or any other disputes or issues between TWU Local 556 and Southwest Airlines.