Why major airline pilots are threatening strikes

Plus, Turkey's Erdogan faces a tough reelection bid.   Southwest Airlines pilots vote to strike; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Ergodan faces a tough reelection challenge. Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.   TOP NEWS Southwest Airlines pilots authorize a strike Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images - Thursday, Southwest Airlines pilots authorized a strike to force the company to the negotiating table after three years of contract talks over pay and scheduling practices. [[Associated Press](] - Ninety-nine percent of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association’s 10,000 members voted for the action, which follows a winter scheduling and staffing meltdown that left 2 million passengers stranded. [[Reuters](] - American Airlines pilots also authorized a strike this month over scheduling and operational concerns. Meanwhile, United pilots on Friday picketed for pay increases in 10 major cities. [[Denver Post / Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton](] - Actual walkouts are unlikely because federal law prohibits airline workers from legally striking unless negotiations fail with management and the National Mediation Board. In that case, the president can step in to avert a work stoppage. [[USA Today / Zach Wichter](] - The Southwest union president encouraged passengers to book with other carriers to avoid disruptions; the airline says the action won’t affect travel during the busy summer season. [[CBS News / Steven Rosenbaum](]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Will Turkey reelect Erdogan? - Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a third consecutive five-year term when Turkey holds presidential and parliamentary elections Sunday. [[AP / Suzan Fraser](] - Voters head to the polls as Erdogan faces blame for Turkey’s economic downturn and the response to the February earthquakes that killed 50,000 people. [[NPR / Larry Kaplow and Peter Kenyon](] - During his time in office, Erdogan strengthened the power of the presidency and frequently clashed with Western leaders. [[CNBC / Natasha Turak](] - Polling suggests Erdogan is trailing Kemal Kilicdaroglu, an opposition leader who promises to restore Turkey’s democracy and standing with the West. A third candidate, Sinan Ogan, isn’t likely to win many votes. [[New York Times / Cora Engelbrecht, Ben Hubbard, and Gulsin Harman](] - If neither candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote Sunday, the race will head to runoffs on May 28. [[Reuters](]   MISCELLANEOUS Twitter’s incoming CEO Linda Yaccarino is an NBCUniversal executive who could help repair the company’s relationship with advertisers. [[Vox / Shirin Ghafarry](] - Sunday, Cyclone Mocha is expected to hit coastal areas of Myanmar and Bangladesh that are vulnerable to floods and home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees. [[Axios / Andrew Freedman](] - South Africa on Friday denied a US official’s claims that it loaded arms onto a sanctioned Russian ship in Cape Town last year. [[Reuters / Kopano Gumbi, Wendell Roelf, and Daphne Psaledakis](] - The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled 5-4 to uphold a California law banning the sale of pork raised under inhumane conditions. [[Vox / Ian Millhiser](]   CROSSWORD OF THE DAY "Head or "foot" preceder. [Solve today's new Vox crossword puzzle]([,]( and stay tuned for more puzzles coming out Monday through Saturday. Want more crosswords? [Sign up for our crossword newsletter here]( and get a dedicated crossword reminder each weekend.   Support our work By being well-informed, I've become a better citizen, a better environmentalist, and hopefully a better ally. —Marissa, Vox Contributor [Give today!](   VERBATIM “The elections are not fair, but nonetheless they are free, and that is why there is always the prospect of political change in Turkey." [[Sinan Ulgen, director of the Istanbul-based EDAM research group, on Turkey's elections / NYT](]   LISTEN TO THIS How Zelda changed gaming It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this podcast. [Listen now ▶](   Read more from Vox Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is somehow the best animal rights movie of the year]( [Elon Musk says he’ll step down as Twitter CEO. But he’s not going anywhere.]( [Why Google is reinventing the internet search]( [Peloton recalls 2 million bikes over a dangerous seat]( [The Republican plan to sneakily cut Medicaid, explained](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( [unsubscribe](param=sentences). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.