A petition created last week regarding 
Southwest Airlines’
relationship with Elliott Investment Management has garnered several hundred signatures. The appeal claims the management firm will dismantle jobs and tarnish the carrier’s legacy.
It comes after longtime
Southwest executive Gary Kelly announced that he would retire next year, triggering a major shakeup within the airline’s board of leaders
. For months, Elliott has been pressuring the carrier to make changes, including calling on CEO Bob Jordan to resign.
“Save Southwest”
Darryl Wong, a believed-to-be Southwest flight attendant, started the Change.org petition on Thursday. Wong specifically called out Paul Singer, the President of Elliott, for being a “hedge fund billionaire notorious for dismantling companies and profiting off short-term gains.” The petition, which currently aims to receive 1,000 signatures, calls on Southwest’s board to reject any takeover attempts by Elliott, protect jobs, and be transparent with employees and its passengers.
Photo: Southwest Airlines
Wong explained on the petition how the Dallas-based carrier has always stood out from the crowd.
“Southwest Airlines has always been different. With a focus on community, hard work, and exceptional customer service, Southwest has always fostered a culture that was created by people, for people. Now, that culture—and the very future of our airline—is under attack.”
Hundreds of signatures in 24 hours
The petition has more than 750 signatures, but quickly gained traction when it was created. Change.org Senior Communications Specialist, Christina Martin told Simple Flying that it garnered over 400 signatures in just one day. More than 50 people signed the petition on Monday.
Wong said that if Elliott were to take over Southwest, mass layoffs
could occur, and many jobs would be outsourced. The airline’s passengers would face higher prices while its service would be reduced. The petition also highlights that Elliott would diminish Southwest’s culture, which has made it unique for more than five decades.
“Southwest is more than just a company—it’s a family, and our customers are part of that family. Paul Singer and Elliott Management don’t care about that,” Wong said on the petition. “They only care about squeezing out profits before moving on, leaving the rest of us to deal with the wreckage.”
Photo: Southwest Airlines
Elliott was accused of stripping away jobs at other companies such as Sears and Toys “R” Us, according to the petition. The investment management company was also alleged to have “sold off valuable assets, and left employees with nothing.” Additionally, Wong stated that Elliott’s influence on telecommunications company AT&T reduced its stock price.
“Elliott’s actions at AT&T led to job cuts, higher prices, and a declining stock price. They care only about short-term profits, not about the people who have built this airline.”
Taking action
The petition calls on signees to “demand” that Southwest’s leadership rejects Elliott’s plans by sharing the petition on social media with #SaveSouthwest, #WeAreSouthwest, and #StopElliott hashtags. It also urges signees to write emails to Kelly and Jordan and send letters to the carrier’s board members.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years, and thank you in advance for standing with us now,” Wong said. “Together, we can ensure that the spirit of Southwest lives on for generations to come.”
Simple Flying contacted both Wong and representatives from Elliott for comment late Monday. However, neither party could be immediately reached.