Southwest Flight Attendant Union Gets An Overseer—Will Audit How They’re Spending Member Dues

Southwest flight attendants have been fighting with their own union over higher dues, the treatment of members who criticize its leaders, and how their money gets spent. Now the union’s parent organization is stepping in, assigning an official to oversee the operation and giving him authority to examine its finances. The parent union explicitly cites “unnecessary internal conflict” distracting from representing flight attendants. Its new representative is empowered to bring in a Financial Monitor. Southwest’s flight attendants have long been one of the best reasons to fly the airline. But some have been frustrated enough with their union to push for different representation, and accused union officers of using disciplinary proceedings to punish them for it. The Parent Union Is Stepping In Southwest’s flight attendants are represented by Transport Workers Union Local 556. The local handles their contract and representation at the airline, while belonging to a larger national organization, TWU International. Three letters circulated to members describe what’s happened: On September 3, TWU International immediately ended longtime representative Thom McDaniel’s assignment to the local. The explanation was a “shift of representational responsibilities.” McDaniel is a former Local 556 president who’d gone on to work for the parent union. On September 7, International disclosed that it had received multiple letters questioning how the local fills vacant leadership positions. It promised a ruling on whether the process follows the union’s constitution. On September 11, International announced that its vice president Gary Peterson would “work with and oversee Local 556.” His assignment specifically includes examining its finances and potentially appointing a Financial Monitor. The September 11 letter says Peterson will advise the local board on avoiding distractions from its job representing members caused by “unnecessary internal conflict.” It then adds: Additionally, Brother Peterson is specifically empowered by us, as per the TWU Constitution, to examine, to the extent he deems appropriate, the finances of Local 556; and to render whatever assistance to the Local that he may deem necessary in this regard, including the appointment of a Financial Monitor to assist him. Flight Attendants Have Been Fighting Their Own Union Last year I reported on four Southwest flight attendants who faced disciplinary charges for advocating different union representation. The original complainant withdrew the charges, saying the process would divide members and divert resources. But a union officer was accused of obtaining the withdrawn allegations and refiling them nearly word-for-word under her own name. That led to charges of retaliation and misuse of confidential records, and a demand to audit dues spent on the proceedings. At the time, Local 556 told me it “does not comment on internal Member issues.” Then there’s the repeated effort to charge members more. Flight attendants rejected proposed monthly assessment increases of $11, $8 and $7. Then a fourth proposal sought $5 a month for contract negotiations. That vote was limited to members physically attending meetings, with no option for an online or mail ballot, to boost chances of passage. Flight attendants are scattered across the country for their jobs makes that difficult! Flight attendants were frustrated that the union kept forcing a revote every time they rejected the dues increase. And the union’s treatment of a crewmember critical of its leadership has cost them all real money. Charlene Carter opposed union leadership and objected to spending associated with the 2017 Women’s March. She sent the union president graphic anti-abortion messages and the president got her fired for it. Carter sued and got her job back and received $946,102.87 from Southwest and the union combined. The union’s share was $473,051. Financial figures reproduced from its Labor Department filings, even before the payout to Charlene Carter, the union’s assets have declined. Receipts Spending Assets 2023 $12,639,998 $12,357,802 $6,262,834 2024 $13,671,340 $16,487,808 $3,529,190 2025 $14,429,069 $14,451,904 $3,505,019 The parent union has authority to inspect a local’s books, and now there’s an assignment of financial scrutiny alongside instructions to address the internal fighting. And there’s also a dispute over how people get into office without a new election. The September 7 letter describes Local 556’s rule as filling vacancies with the next-highest vote getter from the previous election. When someone leaves office, a candidate who lost the earlier contest can get the position. That can change the balance of power inside the union without members casting another ballot. International says it received letters asking whether this complies with the constitution’s general policy of majority rule. The local’s April 2025 Oakland newsletter reported that president Bill Bernal had resigned, first vice president Kristina Peterson had become president, and Sam Wilkins had become first vice president. Treasurer John Parrott also departed, with Nancy Kallas taking that position. The constitution allows exceptions to majority rule where its own provisions or local bylaws provide otherwise and for a vice president to succeed a departing president. But they’ll be looking at whether the current succession practice follows its rules. Topics on this page