New Furlough Announced

Date: June 22, 2009
Type: MEC President Letter

Ladies and Gentlemen:


United management today announced its decision to begin a new furlough with revised return dates and stated it needs 2,150 Flight Attendants in total on furlough status effective August 31, 2009. The factors contributing to this furlough include current staffing levels, a lower than projected attrition rate, the continued retirement of the 737 fleet as planned, along with reconfiguration of the TED and IPTE aircraft. The new furlough numbers and time periods require the Company to conduct a rebid of the Voluntary Furlough as defined in Section 21.A.4. of our Contract. 

Our Contract provides industry-leading protections against the imposition of involuntary furloughs. Some of the benefits to those awarded a Voluntary Furlough include seniority accrual, retention of medical and dental benefits as well as travel benefits. Management must first offer the benefits associated with a Voluntary Furlough to offset and potentially eliminate the forcing any AFA Member into an involuntary furlough. If there are insufficient volunteers for furlough, Flight Attendant may bid on Partnership Flying prior to the company imposing an involuntary furlough. 

Voluntary Furlough and Partnership Program >

Flight Attendants currently on Voluntary Furlough will be recalled to work. All Flight Attendants currently on Voluntary Furlough must respond to the recall notice within 14 days of receipt per Section 21.F. and “accept recall from voluntary furlough as United Airlines Flight Attendant.” All Flight Attendants interested in the new Voluntary Furlough must submit a bid prior to July 17, 2009 at 0800 Central Time.

All Flight Attendants can bid for the Voluntary Furlough. We encourage everyone who can afford to volunteer for a furlough to please do so, as it will reduce the number of Flight Attendants who potentially face an involuntary furlough.  While considering the Contractual benefits of the Voluntary Furlough it is important to also recognize management has stated line averages after the start of the furlough will increase to the 84 hour maximum and extended periods of discretionary time off such as 30-day ANP and Special Leaves may not be available.  Overall, schedule flexibility and discretionary time off will be minimized. If you are interested in bidding for a Voluntary Furlough please refer to the September 2009 Voluntary Furlough Information Package posted on our website along with other furlough resources.

As we have done in prior furloughs, we want you to know that we are working to eliminate the potential for any Flight Attendant to be involuntarily furloughed.  For additional information, contact your Local Council Office and check our website for updated Furlough information.  The Voluntary Furlough may offer good opportunities for certain Members of our community, but we need to recognize the primary reason for it – to mitigate job loss. As with every challenge we face, we confront this together and take care of each other. Let us work together to protect the jobs of our most junior Members.

In Solidarity,

Greg Davidowitch, President
United Master Executive Council

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