On Wednesday, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) raised its dividend 33% and launched a new $2 billion share buyback program at its annual meeting in Chicago.
Outside, hundreds of Southwest’s pilots picketed the meeting. Pilots also picketed at Chicago’s Midway Airport, where Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier. The pilots are frustrated by the fact that they still haven’t reached a new contract deal with Southwest, four years after the previous contract became amendable.