Southwest, Reservation Agents Reach New Contract

The union representing 5,300 reservation and customer service agents at Southwest Airlines has reached a new contract agreement with the company, the union said on Tuesday.

The four-year agreement must still be ratified by membership, according to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

"The tentative agreement provides retroactive wage increases, increased retirement benefits, and expands job security provisions," Tom Higginbotham, IAM District 142 president, said.