Southwest (LUV) Inks Labor Deal With Aircraft Mechanics

LUV JBLU EXPD SAVE

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV - Free Report) has reached a tentative agreement with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, representing 2,400 of its employees involved in the aircraft mechanics workgroup.

Notably, negotiations for the agreement went on for almost six years. Per the agreement, employees will receive a 14.8% increase in wages and a ratification bonus of $91 million in retroactive compensation. Also, the agreement will provide a 3% annual wage hike to employees as long as the contract is valid. Simultaneously, the contract furnishes an updated set of work rules and is valid until Apr 1, 2023. Final ratification of the contract is pending.

A series of labor deals has been inked in the airline space over the past few months. Last month, JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU - Free Report) signed an agreement in principle with its pilots. Final ratification of the same is still pending. Earlier in March, Spirit Airlines, Inc. (SAVE - Free Report) ratified its five-year deal with pilots, pertaining to wage raise.

With companies striking multiple labor deals, the bottom line in each case could be pressurized. Even though such treaties ensure the performance efficiency of airline staff, high employee wages add to operating costs, eroding profits in the process.

Zacks Rank & Key Pick

Southwest holds a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

A better-ranked stock in the broader Transportation sector is Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) , sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Expeditors have gained more than 10% in the last six months.

5 Medical Stocks to Buy Now

Zacks names 5 companies poised to ride a medical breakthrough that is targeting cures for leukemia, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and other conditions.

New products in this field are already generating substantial revenue and even more wondrous treatments are in the pipeline. Early investors could realize exceptional profits.

Click here to see the 5 stocks >>

Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.

This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.

Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>