Fourth union joins in no-confidence drive against Southwest Airlines CEO
Source: Denver Post-Bloomberg
Southwest Airlines Co. baggage handlers and airport ground-operations workers have joined other labor groups in calling for the ouster of CEO Gary Kelly over flight disruptions and what they call the misguided use of cash.
Leaders of Transport Workers Union Local 555 approved a resolution calling for the replacement of Kelly and chief operating officer Mike Van de Ven, president Greg Puriski said in an interview Wednesday. Labor groups representing Southwests flight attendants, pilots and mechanics this week also have called for the two executives to step aside.
The unions criticized Kelly for spending billions of dollars on stock buybacks instead of plowing the money into updates of the airlines aging computer system and for focusing too much on cost controls. The unions represent about 36,000 of Southwests 52,300 full-time workers, based on company numbers. Pilots, flight attendants and mechanics are in contract talks with Southwest.
The culture of Southwest is just not the way it used to be, said Puriski, whose union represents workers who load bags and cargo onto planes, direct aircraft at gates, stock planes with food and beverages and oversee onboard weights and balance. Its profits before people now, which is very disheartening. We just dont like the direction of our company.
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Associated Press file Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/03/union-no-confidence-southwest-ceo/