Today is Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) day in the United States. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz offers reflections each year on this holiday that I am pleased to share with you.
Here’s his note to employees shared by a FA friend:
Dear United family,
Fifty years ago, just months after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lost his life fighting for the cause of civil rights and social justice, those he left behind gathered informally around the time of his birthday, January 15, in town squares and places of worship around the world, to celebrate his life and legacy. From that first day in January 1969 to now, it has always been an occasion for people of goodwill to rededicate their lives to the cause for which Dr. King gave his life. At the United family, we will commemorate the occasion with special celebrations and events taking place throughout the system.
As we carry out the mission of United, we have a unique perspective on Dr. King’s message. We are as diverse as the customers and communities we serve around the globe. We daily connect people to the moments that matter most, helping unite the world. We constantly traverse borders and boundaries that once separated people from one another, embodying in our service the very essence of what Dr. King called “the inescapable network of mutuality.” We understand, perhaps better than most, exactly what he meant when he put pen to paper while a prisoner inside a Birmingham jail: that we are “tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
As we go about our work, serving customers of every background and belief, sexual orientation and origin, with each takeoff and landing we make, let’s remember the privileged role we play in strengthening that inescapable garment of destiny of which we are all part.
Humbly,
Oscar
The note is similar to his sentiments in 2017 and 2018. Munoz is right that an airline like United has a unique ability to unite communities around the world.
May all us treat one another with dignity and compassion this day and every day.
MLK was a good man however he could not remain faitful to his wife this is similar to our leader president trump lets hope the media treats the president as well as they treat this hero
MLK united people through non-violence and broke down walls. Trump unites people through anger and fear and tries to build walls. We will remember him accordingly.
If you really think that his infidelities are why the majority of America is dissatisfied with him, you are a fool.
Hold on a minute, the same company who dragged the passenger of the plane in 2017? and the same company who just kept passengers 14hrs in freezing cold in Iceland? Not really strengthening garment of destiny if you ask me!
Seriously ?
United staff didn’t “drag” or order anyone to “drag” Dr. Dao off the plane, the Chicago airport security goons did that on their own. Secondly, the flight that was diverted and then went mechanical was in Canada, not Iceland and the passengers were warm and fed on board the United aircraft. You’re making it sound like they were thrown off and wandering around on on the tarmac. Good grief, get educated because you speak or type something.
correction….(TYPO)…before you speak or type something.
I’ve grown to really like Oscar’s emails that I’ve read. He seems to be a generally likable guy, and “gets it” in a way that other major CEOs (Ahem…. Doug) don’t.
Munoz is focusing on making United a better place while Doug Parker is focusing on making the most money. Doug — it’s not working.
Getting sick of all the PC bs. People who would not have touched MLK with a six foot pole while he was alive now singing his praise