Southwest Unions Call For The CEO’s Head — Skift Business Traveler

WHAT TO KNOW NOW Southwest pilots and ground workers aren't happy with management. After a record-breaking IT debacle late last month, the Dallas, Texas-based airline was forced to cancel as many as 8,000 flights -- and according to the staff, it's the fault of CEO Gary Kelly and COO Mike Van de Ven. Union complaints state that the airline hasn't made important IT updates over the last several years and has focused too much on profits, a reasonable claim in this era of ultra-profitable carriers.  Already Kelly has denounced the complaints as nonsense even as more unions within the airline voice their disdain. But will the grousing cause any movement? Perhaps. If the airline remains profitable, then Kelly has a good defense as the CEO who pulled the carrier through the Great Recession. But if profits continue to slip and shareholders side with the unions, then the CEO's future may get more interesting. SOCIAL QUOTE OF THE DAY Southwest Airlines' profits for the quarter