More than three years after United and Continental Airlines announced a deal to merge the two entities into the world’s largest air carrier, airport employees at the combined company have finally started wearing a single uniform type to work.

Small labels inside the garments say “Made in Vietnam.” The uniforms (distributed by Cintas) formally debuted June 25, 2013. All but the pilot work group at the new, combined United now have harmonized uniform types. Ironically, the pilots are the only major employee group at United working under an amalgamated union contract. Pilots will roll out their new work duds later this year.

Despite working side by side for more than a year now, rank and file employees at airports across the domestic system have until now been differentiated by subsidiary (old United or old Continental) based on use of outdated uniforms. Old Continental employees stuck out especially because the now defunct name was prominently displayed on their shirts.

While there’s been some grumbling about the quality and fashion sensibility of the new uniforms, I believe it’s an important and long overdue pro-worker element of the integration. As silly as it may sound to people who have never been through a merger of this scope and complexity, easily identifiable differentiation by one’s previous affiliation adds an unnecessary layer of tension to a process already rife with fear and suspicion.

I’m glad to be wearing the new uniform. I’m happy the shirt I wear now says United rather than Continental. There is still a single union contract to be worked out before a true melding of two groups of workers from different companies can take place. But at least workers now are no longer overtly marked by their past. It seems to provide a fresher, healthier starting point for contact with co-workers who come in from other cities. It removes preconceptions.