April 24 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines' ( LUV ) flight

attendants on Wednesday voted in favor of a new contract with an

immediate 22% pay raise, the union representing the employees

and the carrier said on Wednesday.

Nearly 20,000 flight attendants at the airline voted in

favor of a new collective bargaining agreement, the Transport

Workers Union's local chapter 556 said.

Of the nearly 93% of eligible voters, 81% voted in support

of the contract which will give them an immediate 22% pay raise

this year and 3% per year raises till May 2028.

The new contract comes after the airline's two previous

attempts to secure a deal with the union.

Southwest ( LUV ) has ratified contracts with eleven

union-represented worker groups since October 2022, including a

deal with its pilots earlier this year which will offer a near

50% pay raise over a five-year period.

Flight attendants at rival American Airlines ( AAL ) and

United Airlines are also negotiating with the carriers

for better pay and benefits, including pay for their time during

boarding and on the ground.