Southwest and its mechanics reach a tentative deal in labor dispute

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Southwest Airlines Co. planes stand on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Southwest Airlines Co. is scheduled to release earnings on January 25. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Southwest had complained about mechanics flagging minor maintenance issues to force unnecessary flight cancellations for things such as missing seat row numbers.

The number of canceled flights had jumped to 62 a day in February, from the normal 14, according to a lawsuit that Southwest filed against the mechanics union for what it alleged was an illegal work slowdown designed to pressure the airline into agreeing to a contract.

Southwest CEO Gary Kelly had said the flight cancellations were costing the airline millions of dollars.

The union had filed its own lawsuit accusing Southwest and its chief operating officer of defamation.

Both sides issued conciliatory statements Sunday but declined to discuss how the tentative agreement might affect their respective lawsuits.

“Our mechanics certainly deserve a new contract, and this industry-leading agreement in principle addresses our employees’ interests,” said Russell McCrady, Southwest’s vice president of labor relations.

“I commend both sides for their hard work and tireless negotiating this past week,” said Bret Oestreich, national director for the mechanics union.