Long known for an amicable relationship with its workers and their unions, Southwest Airlines is beginning to experience some of the labor unrest that has long been a feature at its rivals. While Southwest employees benefit from a pension based profit sharing plan under which some of the higher paid pilots are set to receive millions when they retire, during their employment most Southwest workers make thirty to seventy percent less than their counterparts at other airlines. In light of Southwest?s strong financial performance even as other airlines have experienced major losses, several unions are pushing for raises on a level with those won by unions at other airlines.
See MICHELINE MAYNARD, The New York Times, July 3, 2002