Fly-By-Cable
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2001
- Posts
- 515
One Family, One Future
by Ginger Hardage
We've had so many important and exciting announcements recently, and I can tell from the comments on SWALife and the conversations I've had with many of you, both Southwest and AirTran Employees are passionate about our future. Integrating two airlines is not an easy process—we said from the beginning that the labor portion of this integration work would be the most difficult. Experts will say that airline integration can’t be done in a smooth and civil way, but if anyone can do it, I believe you can—the 43,000 Employees of Southwest and AirTran.
Our competitors who are going through mergers themselves, and those low-cost carriers who have modeled themselves after our business, want nothing more than to see us fail at this. The choice is ours, however, and our future—the future of both Southwest and AirTran, linked together—lies in the hands of our Employees. We have made such great strides, and should be proud of the integration milestones we have accomplished so far. We must focus on working together and treating each other with respect as we move forward.
In light of everything going on around us, and the emotions and feelings that go with it, do not lose sight of the fact that we are still One LUV and One Family. Our Culture and our People are what set us apart from the competition—they are our most important weapon. And we must not jeopardize that by disrespecting each other. We simply will not tolerate bad behavior—with each other in the workplace, when sharing thoughts/ideas/emotions in writing, through interpersonal interactions, or on the Employee blog. The success of this integration is critical to the future of this Company, and we must remember to respect one another along the way.
Part of our pledge to Employees in our Mission statement says that, “Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.” Our Family is known for Teamwork and how we treat one another—and not just those who are like us or who wear the same uniform, or are in our department. The environment for our industry is uncertain. We face volatile fuel prices, unpredictable Customer demand, changing regulations, a deteriorating economic environment, and fierce competition. We must overcome these challenges in order to prosper. But we can’t do that if we are distracted.
As Gary confirmed in his Newsline message this week, “Our jobs are secure at Southwest and at AirTran, and we’re going to work very hard to take care of all of our People.” What's just as important—and I truly hope you consider your personal role in this—is that we take care of each other, each and every day.
by Ginger Hardage
We've had so many important and exciting announcements recently, and I can tell from the comments on SWALife and the conversations I've had with many of you, both Southwest and AirTran Employees are passionate about our future. Integrating two airlines is not an easy process—we said from the beginning that the labor portion of this integration work would be the most difficult. Experts will say that airline integration can’t be done in a smooth and civil way, but if anyone can do it, I believe you can—the 43,000 Employees of Southwest and AirTran.
Our competitors who are going through mergers themselves, and those low-cost carriers who have modeled themselves after our business, want nothing more than to see us fail at this. The choice is ours, however, and our future—the future of both Southwest and AirTran, linked together—lies in the hands of our Employees. We have made such great strides, and should be proud of the integration milestones we have accomplished so far. We must focus on working together and treating each other with respect as we move forward.
In light of everything going on around us, and the emotions and feelings that go with it, do not lose sight of the fact that we are still One LUV and One Family. Our Culture and our People are what set us apart from the competition—they are our most important weapon. And we must not jeopardize that by disrespecting each other. We simply will not tolerate bad behavior—with each other in the workplace, when sharing thoughts/ideas/emotions in writing, through interpersonal interactions, or on the Employee blog. The success of this integration is critical to the future of this Company, and we must remember to respect one another along the way.
Part of our pledge to Employees in our Mission statement says that, “Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.” Our Family is known for Teamwork and how we treat one another—and not just those who are like us or who wear the same uniform, or are in our department. The environment for our industry is uncertain. We face volatile fuel prices, unpredictable Customer demand, changing regulations, a deteriorating economic environment, and fierce competition. We must overcome these challenges in order to prosper. But we can’t do that if we are distracted.
As Gary confirmed in his Newsline message this week, “Our jobs are secure at Southwest and at AirTran, and we’re going to work very hard to take care of all of our People.” What's just as important—and I truly hope you consider your personal role in this—is that we take care of each other, each and every day.
