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SWAPA Leadership Update: Perspective

SWAPA Leadership Update: Perspective

June 06, 2023
Every Southwest Pilot begins their career with the hope of adventure and the dream of flights to come. As professional Pilots, we endeavor to earn an amazing living giving airplane rides as a labor of love. We are truly blessed that we get to call aviation our craft. In that vein, whenever we lose a fellow Pilot, it is time to stop, reflect, and take stock in who we are and what makes our community great and unique.

This week, the world looked on as we learned of the loss of retired Captain Jeff Hefner in an aircraft accident in Virginia. Jeff was a SWAPA committee and board member, a staunch Pilot advocate, and a friend. Our prayers are with Jeff’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Just days later, as reported by Southwest Airlines and our own Negotiating Committee yesterday, we also learned of the passing of another former SWAPA committee member and current MDW Assistant Chief, Captain Richard Jenkins. Richard was serving on the Company’s negotiating team this week as they met with SWAPA in mediated sessions. Richard also leaves behind a wife and family, and our thoughts are with them as they cope with this horrible loss.

There is a time for business and a time for grieving. Right now, it is time to grieve and enable our co-workers and friends to process these losses. As such, your SWAPA Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 24-hour picket in Dallas scheduled for June 15.

SWAPA has always maintained that we will make strategic decisions to drive our negotiations to a successful conclusion using all means at our disposal. Our goal to increase negotiating sessions, the purpose of our 24-hour picket, was satisfied this week by the mediators. Our dedicated Pilots who have already stepped up and planned the trip to Dallas to do what has never been done before make me infinitely proud. All of us at SWAPA are grateful that you are the front line in defending our profession.

Rest assured, plans for future events to secure Contract 2020 will continue when the time is right. I know that so many of you will continue to answer when SWAPA calls as we strive for a contract that achieves your goals, and we will continue that mission going forward. While our fellow Pilots’ families and friends are grieving their loss, we need to keep them front of mind. Business will be there when we reconvene. We are all SWAPA Pilots.

Casey Murray
SWAPA President