Southwest Airlines Sues Mechanics Union Over Service Disruptions

(Undated) — Southwest Airlines is suing its mechanics union for what the airline calls an illegal campaign to disrupt operations.

Southwest filed suit against the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association on Thursday. The suit asks a federal judge to order mechanics to stop what Southwest calls an unlawful job action.

The union accused Southwest last month of not negotiating in good faith in contract talks that have been going on since 2012. Southwest says that was followed by an increase in cosmetic and minor maintenance write-ups that took a lot of planes out of service, forcing hundreds of flight delays and cancellations.