DALLAS — Southwest Airlines and a union representing its mechanics could be on the verge of ending a bitter, long-running labor dispute that has triggered hundreds of flight cancellations and raised safety concerns. The two sides announced the tentative contract agreement late Saturday after six years of negotiations between Southwest and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association. Southwest had complained about mechanics flagging minor maintenance issues to force unnecessary flight cancellations for things such as missing seat row numbers. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly had said the flight cancellations were costing the airline millions of dollars. “I commend both sides for their hard work and tireless negotiating this past week,” said Bret Oestreich, national director for the mechanics union.

Source: Washington Post March 17, 2019 18:48 UTC