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Southwest pilots picket in Dallas

By Shawn Price
Southwest pilots picketed at Love Field in Dallas on Wednesday, demanding better wages after being bogged down in contract negotiations for four years. rlw/bg/Bill Greenblatt/UPI .
Southwest pilots picketed at Love Field in Dallas on Wednesday, demanding better wages after being bogged down in contract negotiations for four years. rlw/bg/Bill Greenblatt/UPI . | License Photo

DALLAS, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Hundreds of Southwest pilots picketed at Love Field in Dallas on Wednesday to demand better wages.

The pilots, who have been bogged down in negotiations for a new contract for four years and have not gone on strike, but wanted to make their case to passengers.

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"During that time, executives have enjoyed nearly 50% in average raises, and shareholders have enjoyed nearly $6 billion in stock buybacks while Southwest pilot wages have been stagnant since 2011 and are well behind industry standard wages," the pilot's union said.

Southwest pilots are paid about $180,000 a year, the union said. Though pilots are asking for a 32 percent increase through 2019, that increase would include retroactive pay raises from 2012, when negotiations began.

"The pilots of Southwest simply want to remain contractually on par with our fellow professional pilots at other companies," said Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association president Jon Weaks. "Management actions, however, continue to foster labor discord."

The picket in Dallas was only the latest. Pilots, frequently joined by mechanics and flight attendants who are also seeking new contracts, picketed at a company shareholder's meeting in Chicago earlier this year among other locations.

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