Southwest Airlines union pickets over wages

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The union that represents 7,200 workers at Southwest Airlines said it will begin informational picketing on Thursday afternoon at Houston's Hobby Airport after contract negotiations stalled over wages.

Transport Workers Union Local 555 said informational picket lines will also be in place at more airports on Southwest's routes over the next few weeks.

"Our members are struggling with everyday living expenses and wages have not kept pace with the rising cost of living," TWU Local 555 President Charles Cerf said in a statement.

The TWU said contract negotiations began on January 15, 2008, but recently stalled as the union and the company could not agree on wages.

The union said the TWU and Southwest filed for federal mediation on October 31.

A spokeswoman for Southwest stressed the picketing was informational only and was being done on workers' own time and would not affect the operations of the airline.

"We have tentative agreements on almost everything -- where we are is just a few percentage points apart in terms of wages," the Southwest spokeswoman said.

"Our goal is to provide good jobs and benefits that continue to lead the industry while also protecting the financial health of our company," the spokeswoman added.

(Reporting by Mark McSherry; editing by Matthew Lewis)