Southwest Airlines warned nearly 7,000 workers on Thursday that they could lose their jobs unless labor unions accept concessions to help the airline cope with a sharp drop in travel caused by the pandemic. Southwest has severely limited operations due to the pandemic. The company asked unions for help in reducing staff costs back in October. Southwest requested the labor union to accept pay cuts of around 10% in exchange for the promise of no furloughs throughout 2021. However, negotiations have halted. Today, Southwest issued warnings to 6,828 employees including more than 2,500 ground workers and 1,500 flight attendants represented by the Transport Workers Union and 1,221 pilots, who have their own union. If the furloughs occur, it will be the first time that Southwest Airlines has ever furloughed staff.
See "Southwest Warns Nearly 7,000 Workers of Possible Furloughs", David Koenig, Associated Press, December 3, 2020