Southwest CE says mechanics deserve new contract, but company wants 'flexibility'

Southwest Airlines' mechanics, who have been in labour contract talks for more than 6 years, deserve a new deal that makes them among the best paid in the airline industry, but the carrier needs "more supplier flexibility" in return, the company's CE said. The labour dispute, one of the biggest to hit a top-4 US airline in more than a decade, has escalated with Southwest's daily out-of-service aircraft doubling, forcing the carrier to cancel hundreds of flights since Feb 15. Southwest CE Gary Kelly said the mechanics deserve a new contract and pointed out that the deal the mechanics voted down last year would have made those workers the highest paid in the industry. He said current talks offer the opportunity to offer even higher pay with no impact on job security "in exchange for more supplier flexibility." <br/>