OUR VOICE- Diversity in the Workplace
- by: Damion West
- recipient: Management
Our Voices Campaign
The increasing number of African American Flight Attendants has shed even more light on the growing concern that employees have regarding race in our workplace. For some of us this has created a hostile, intimidating, offensive and sometime an even threatening environment. Although we are here, but are we being heard? Are our matters and concerns being addressed? Are our rights being protected? Who is really speaking for us? It is important that we speak up, speak out and engage with our leadership to address the matters of race relations.
Together we can create a discussion with management around our matters and seek remedies on how we will:
Dialog with management regarding past and current racial and diversity matters.
How to better address the issues as they arise in the workplace between employees and also employees and customers.
Determine what are the current systems that are in place and there effectiveness.
Discuss providing education, training and awareness in the workplace surrounding race.
Gain a clear understanding of the company disciplinary policy for those who are accused and/or violate the harassment and discrimination policy.
This is only the beginning of what we can do together. No more shame. No more hiding. WE ARE THE FRESH FACES OF THIS AIRLINE. We are being utilized as a marketing tool on more advertisements. So they are aware that our presence is a selling point with our clientele and business partners. So we ask you... Will you be a part of the change? Please join us and support the OUR VOICES campaign.
PLEASE ADD YOUR EMPLOYEE NUMBER AND BASE IN THE COMMENT SECTION.
11/7/2016
Mr. Damion West
5231 5th St. NW
Washington, DC 20011
Southwest Airlines
Mr. Mark Shaw
General Counsel Department
P.O. Box 36611
2702 Love Field Drive
Dallas, TX 75235
Dear Mr. Shaw;
Southwest Airlines has been made aware of the growing employee concerns regarding race relations, diversity and the lack of education. Many individual complaints have been reported to senior
management and employee relations. The addition of the Southwest and Airtran integration has shed even more light on the growing concerns that employees here at Southwest Airlines have regarding this matter. For some employees this has created a hostile, intimidating, offensive and sometime an even threatening work environment. Flight Attendants specifically have documented and shared their concerns with inflight management over the years. Many flight attendants do not feel as though the concerns have been taken as serious as the policy here at Southwest states. No employee should experience harassment due to his or her race in our workplace.
Our culture here at Southwest is built around the Golden Rule “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” Unfortunately, our current climate is not in line with our award winning culture. There areemployees who have concerns of fear, judgement and discrimination due race. According to the Southwest Airlines Policy Concerning Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination & Retaliation issued by Southwest Airlines in 2016 and effective until/unless reissued, ….. the policy “prohibits any and all types of harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination”…. against employees. The policy also mentions matters which…. “negatively affects morale, motivation and job performance. Such behavior will not be tolerated.” Not only have instances been reported to the company in an attempt to deescalate a hostile work environment, but nothing formal has been established companywide that would address these ongoing concerns regarding race relations.
We need to meet with Employee Relations, Senior Management, Cabin Services Management and the People Department. We not only need to address concerns but to also advocate for how we as
employees will address these concerns moving forward with the company. We request to meet within the next thirty (30) days. We know this matter will not go away and must be addressed before more lives are impacted by the hostile environment that we work within.
We need to come together with your office to discuss and remedy the following:
• Dialog with management regarding past and current racial and diversity matters.
• How we are expected to address the issues as they arise in the workplace with other employees and also employees and customers.
• Understand what are the current systems that are in place and there effectiveness.
• Discuss ways of provide education, training and awareness in the workplace surrounding race.
• Provide knowledge of the current disciplinary policy for those who violate the harassment and discrimination policy.
• Gain an understanding of the investigation process for those who are accused or questioned regarding these matters.
Our company has a great Affirmative Action Policy Regarding Women and Minorities. The company’s commitment should not stop there. Measures must be put in place to ensure that the work environment is one that understands there may be some differences and what could be considered offensive. For example, Southwest Airlines has a policy regarding Transgender Workers. The policy states: “fosters an inclusive environment that allows for Employees to be honest and open about who they are.” The policy goes on to provide additional resources that employees may refer to. The policy also acknowledges that there is the potential for creating misunderstandings in the workplace due to lack of knowledge. As a protected class, we too would like a policy that speaks to our needs of understanding in the workplace as well.
We do appreciate your time and attention to this matter. We look forward to meeting within the next thirty (30) days to resolve and discuss racial matters in our workplace with Southwest Airlines. Please contact Damion West at (202)406-0094 and westdamion@gmail.com to schedule this meeting.
Sincerely,
Damion West, LaTonia Paul Benoit, KeyAnder R. Early,
LaShaye Hutchinson, Corliss King
December 14, we had a very productive meeting with management. We would like to keep you informed of our on going progress. This site does not give us direct access to your email address, if you would like to be added to our email list send a email to flightattendantrights@gmail.com. We will also be using this email address to comply data to on any incidents happening in the future. That includes any types of Tittle VII violations, which includes all protected classes.
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