Last week we announced the start of the implementation of the Flight Attendants’ Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). Remember that the JCBA will be implemented in phases and only the Date of Signing (DOS) items are in effect now that we are in the September bid month.
Since last week’s announcement we have received a number of questions and comments. Many of the questions were in the “How do I do that” and “When will I be paid for this” categories, so we decided to communicate those answers to everyone instead of replying to the comments.
1. How do I get reimbursed for Parking Expenses?
The parking reimbursement amount is harmonized effective with the September bid month to $35. The existing parking rules will continue for each group for the time being while we develop the process to harmonize the rules for everyone.
2. How do I get reimbursed for Global Entry under Section 3.V.5?
Global Entry is reimbursable for expenses for governmental fees incurred on or after the start of the September bid month (August 29 for S-CO and CMI, August 30 for S-UA). To be reimbursed, a flight attendant should use her/his existing expense reimbursement process supported by a receipt.
3. How do I use Hotel Self Help in Section 5.B.5?
There is no change for S-UA, Hotel Self Help is new for S-CO and CMI. If a flight attendant arrives at a layover hotel and her/his room is not ready within thirty (30) minutes after arrival, she/he may obtain other accommodations and then claim reasonable actual lodging expenses using her/his existing expense reimbursement process supported by the hotel receipt. Flight attendants should contact the Hotel Desk in advance of engaging in self-help.
4. How do I get reimbursed for the cab expense under section 5.D?
If a flight attendant is away from her/his domicile and the Company doesn’t provide transportation, she/he shall be allowed reasonable actual expenses, incurred for suitable transportation, between the field and lodging place and return. [5.D.1]
A flight attendant will be allowed Ten Dollars ($10.00) for cab or limousine between airport or co-terminal and place of lodging at Domicile points whenever departure time of her/his flight assignment is between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. or when arrival time of the flight is between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. [5.D.2]
Both of these types of expenses can be submitted using her/his existing expense reimbursement process supported by a receipt.
5. How do I get more information about language training under Section 9.G.2?
United has had language training programs available for all of our Flight Attendants. We are now harmonizing those individual programs into a single program and will post information about it very soon on the Language Qualified section on Flying Together. Please contact your supervisor for more information.
6. When shall S-UA Flight Attendants expect to see and be paid the international override?
International override will be paid based on each group’s current definition of International. Everyone will see it on their regular paychecks for their September flying.
For S-UA Flight Attendants, there will not be a separate line item for International Override, instead you will see the $2 International Override added to your basic hourly rate for any International Flying. For example, if you are at top scale, your pay for international trips will reflect the basic rate of $62 plus the International Override of $2, for a total of $64.
7. When and how will Training Pay be paid?
The training rate is changing to 3 hours of flight time pay per day at the applicable basic rate for all Flight Attendants and is effective for the September bid month.
IT was able to make most of the required changes for September, however the S-CO and CMI Flight Attendants’ September training pairings will reflect 2:30 in Crew Management System (CMS), however training will be paid at 3 hours of flight time for September.
All Flight Attendants will have their September training paid on the October 16 check.
8. When will Holiday Pay be paid?
For S-UA, there is no change to the current pay process; Holiday Pay is new for S-CO and CMI. We will collect the data as the holidays occur, however the payment of the holiday pay will not occur until after we have completed programming in the 2nd quarter of 2017. This will include Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day 2017 and your birthday (if it falls in this period). There is no action required by individual Flight Attendants to get paid.
9. Will eligible S-CO Flight Attendants continue to receive Senior Premium Pay? If so, when will it be discontinued?
Yes. Senior Premium Pay is part of the S-CO language program. It will remain in place until common Crew Management System, when the new language program will be implemented.
10. For cabin jumpseat, when will boarding priority be based on the combined flight attendant seniority vs. whose metal? When will I no longer have to worry about being denied the jumpseat when a flight is weight restricted?
In keeping with the existing agreement over jumpseat access, boarding priority will remain the same until we reach common Crew Management Sy. We are currently working with the appropriate departments to remove the weight restriction for jumpseat riders. We will advise you as soon as this work has been completed.
11. Does the Commuter Policy take effect at DOS?
The Commuter Policy is listed as a DOS + item with implementation to be developed by the Joint Implementation Team.
12. How does vacation accrue for 2018?
All Flight Attendants will accrue 2018 vacation from September 2016 through August 2017. Vacation will be accrued utilizing the 120/60 formula in Section 12.A. As this is a change in the Vacation Accrual Year for S-CO and CMI Flight Attendants, those S-CO and CMI Flight Attendants who are on a leave of absence during any month September through December 2016 will receive full credit for 2018 vacation for that month (S-CO and CMI Flight Attendants on leaves of absence during this period will have their 2017 vacation adjusted for the leave).