Employee Assistance/Professional Standards Program Training Concludes
MEC EAP/Professional Standards Committee

This week, fourteen (14) dedicated volunteer Members from around the system attended our MEC Annual EAP/Professional Standards training in Chicago. The featured key note speakers included Representatives from the MEC Benefits, Grievance, Safety, Health & Security Committees, AFA International EAP/Professional Standards Director and our specially trained FADAP coordinator.  In addition, we had representatives from company EAP & Benefits and the Inflight Duty Manager Desk address the group of peer professionals.

Your Local Council EAP/Professional Standards Committee volunteers completed training after acquiring additional skills and resources to better equip them in meeting the unique needs of Flight Attendants. We sincerely thank these hard-working volunteers for their dedication in the service of their fellow Flying Partners.

Category One Local Council Elections Results
MEC Communications Committee

Category 1 Local Council Elections concluded this week. The following Flight Attendants were elected to a three-year term of office beginning January 1, 2020 ending December 31, 2022:

EWR/MCO Council 6

LAX/SAN Council 12

HNL Council 14

DCA Council 21

BOS Council 27

FRA Council 20

LHR Council 7

Congratulations to all of us and thank you to all who stepped forward willing to serve our fellow Members.

Round 2 Vacation Bidding is Now Open
MEC Central Schedule Committee

Secondary (Round Two) Vacation bidding is now open. Flight Attendants will have until November 16, 0800 home domicile time (HDT) to submit their second-round vacation bids. All remaining days must be bid during the second round or they will be assigned.  Awards will be posted no later than November 20, 2019. 0800 (HDT).

For additional information on the rules when bidding for vacation, please refer to the 2020 Vacation guide.

Transfers Awarded for January 2020 Bid Month – Action Required!

 On November 6, 2019, the company awarded 471 Flight Attendant transfers to BOS, DEN, EWR, GUM, IAH, LAX, MCO, SAN and SFO.  Flight Attendants are reminded, under the provisions of Section 17 of our JCBA, once awarded a transfer you must either accept or decline such transfer within seven (7) days of the award date.  Keep in mind, a non-response (failure to respond) is considered to be the same as declining the transfer.

When a Flight Attendant declines an awarded transfer, she/he will be inhibited from further transfer for a period of three (3) months. There are incidents where Flight Attendants not intending to transfer, are placing a transfer request on file out of curiosity to see where they fall on the list and subsequently forgetting to withdraw the transfer request. A consequence of this is being awarded a transfer, declining it and being restricted from transfer for a period of three months.

If a Flight Attendant accepts a transfer award, she/he will be restricted from transferring for a period of six (6) months.

MEC Reserve Committee Report
MEC Reserve Committee

The MEC Reserve Committee’s October 2019 report detailing the activities of the Reserve Committee has been published on unitedafa.org.

CQ 2020 Changes
MEC Safety, Health & Security

As CQ 2019 concludes the end of this month of November, the company announced in Inflight Services Weekly some notable changes to CQ 2020 which begins December 2019.

CQ 2020 will be a two-day program with Day 1 being Regulatory Training and Day 2 consisting of Customer Service Training (CST).

JCBA Section 11.B.1. requires training compensation to be no less than three (3) hours flight time pay and credit for each day of training. Review Section 11.B. for all other related training compensation such as pay for deadhead to and from training for those required to attend training away from their base and trip guarantee procedures when it is necessary to drop a trip to attend required training either because of a minimum day off issue or in those instances where training is not provided on any of a Flight Attendant’s days off during her/his must go (due) month.

Additionally, beginning in December 2019 for the 2020 CQ year, the company is launching CQ trimester CBTs to replace the previously required method for CBT completed. Each CBT is required to be completed during three designated time periods.

Each required trimester CBT session will launch at midnight CST and must be completed by 2359 CST on the due date.

Each trimester CBT session is estimated to take approximately three hours and per JCBA Section 11.B.2., each trimester CBT session will be paid one hour (1:00) flight time and credit for every three hours (3:00), prorated. In no case shall a Flight Attendant receive less than one hour (1:00) flight time pay and credit.

Please review the CQ 2020 and CBT training info packet as well as the FAQ on Flying Together or in your Link.

Honoring our Veterans- Monday, November 11 

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with words that still ring true today as we honor our veterans:   "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The observance of Veterans Day on November 11th each year, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls, not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Mark the day and take a minute to remember what America’s veterans have done and the sacrifices veterans and their families make every day without ever seeking gratification for putting their country before themselves and their families.

To all those who have served their country with pride and heroism, including our colleagues with whom we share our uniform, as well as the families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives in the service of our country, we respectfully express our appreciation for your service on this November 11th Veterans’ Day.

Reminders and Quick Links

November 8           Second Round Vacation Bid Begins
November 11         Veterans Day
November 16         Second Round Vacation bids close 0800 HDT
November 20         Second Round Vacation Awards Posted
November 20         January Job Shares & One Month COLA Bids Due 1000 HDT
November 23         Labor Thanksgiving Day - NRT
November 24         Working Crew Member Holiday Buddy Travel Begins
November 24         Vacation Allocations Posted
November 28         Thanksgiving Holiday – All U.S. Domiciles & GUM
November 30         Trades Awarded by Seniority

Dec.1- Jan 29        Trimester 1 CQ 2020 CBT Requirement
December 5            Vacation Instant Trading Opens