OREANDA-NEWS. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today that its Flight Dispatchers, represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU 550), have voted in favor of a new four-year contract. The agreement was ratified by 95 percent of Southwest's Dispatchers and replaces the group's previous contract well ahead of the November (2015) amendable date. The new collective bargaining agreement provides pay increases, as well as opportunities for bonuses tied to Company and Employee performance.

"I would like to thank our highly-skilled team of Dispatchers, along with their TWU representatives, for their continued partnership," said Matt Hafner, Southwest Airlines Vice President Network Operations Control. "I am thrilled to have a new agreement that rewards our Employees and remains true to our legacy of being the number one low-cost carrier in the country."

TWU 550 President Mike Connor said, "The Company values our Dispatchers, as evidenced by this agreement. This group works around the clock to support the operation and plays a vital role in getting our passengers to their destinations safely and efficiently. We are committed to Southwest and are enthusiastic about the future of our Company."

FAA-licensed Dispatchers are directly responsible for the conduct of safe and efficient flight operations and the dispatch, clearance, and movement of all Company aircraft. Their new agreement supports the Company's mission of providing its Employees a stable work environment and Southwest's core vision of being the World's Most Loved, Most Flown, and Most Profitable Airline.