1. May I avoid involuntary furlough by bidding for the voluntary furlough?
No, a Flight Attendant will not be able to avoid involuntary furlough by bidding for voluntary furlough. A Flight Attendant who wants to work should not bid for the voluntary furlough.
Once the voluntary furlough award is complete, the company may offer cost-neutral Partnership Flying awards in those domiciles with an overage. All options will be exhausted before an involuntary furlough is imposed.
2. Will there definitely be 2,150 Flight Attendants placed on furlough status starting August 31, 2009?
The 2,150 number is the highest amount that could be placed on furlough status. AFA will work with the company to consider the needs of the operation and potentially decrease the total number.
3. If I am a voluntary furloughed Flight Attendant, will I be able to return prior to the expiration of the furlough period?
A voluntary furloughed Flight Attendant will only be allowed to return prior to the expiration of the furlough period for personal reasons due to hardship, with the approval of the Company.
4. In what order would a furlough recall be conducted?
A recall from furlough would first be offered to those involuntarily furloughed in seniority order, followed by voluntarily furloughed Flight Attendants in inverse order of seniority.
5. If I am voluntarily furloughed, am I subjecting myself to surplus to a domicile other than the one from which I accepted the voluntary furlough?
Section 21.A.3.e. of the AFA Agreement provides you with the contractual right to be returned to the domicile from which you were voluntarily furloughed. The only exceptions to this preferential right would be if the domicile was closed or if a surplus has been declared in the domicile and your seniority status is affected by the surplus action.
6. Will United contest unemployment for voluntary furloughs?
No. Check with your local unemployment office for your specific unemployment benefits. http://www.doleta.gov
7. Do I lose all rights to return to United if I am involuntarily furloughed?
No. Flight Attendants remain on the recall list for six years. The following benefits are available to involuntary furloughed Flight Attendants as listed in Section 21.G. of our Contract (page 154):
A Flight Attendant furloughed due to reduction in force, on return to duty, shall be allowed, for seniority purposes, all time accrued prior to such furlough but shall not continue to accrue seniority during the period of furlough. Coverage under the Company’s Accident, Sickness and Dental Program shall be continued for the first ninety (90) days of a furlough. All such furloughs shall expire at the end of six (6) years from the effective date of furlough and the Flight Attendant shall cease to have preference for re-employment.
8. I am on an occupational injury as well as concerned that I may be involuntarily furloughed. Will my occupational pay and medical benefits continue if I am furloughed?
The Workers' Compensation benefits are in two forms. There are legal benefits under the laws of the state where you filed your claim and there are contractual occupational benefits that are provided by the Contract. If you are furloughed you will continue to receive your legal workers' compensation benefits. Your workers' compensation claim follows you, not the job. That includes your disability pay (temporary total disability pay) and your medical bills that result from your work-related injury. You may retain a lawyer if that is necessary. If you are involuntarily furloughed you will no longer be entitled to the Contractual occupational benefits since you are no longer working for United.
9. May I bid for the voluntary furlough if I am on maternity leave?
This answer depends upon your maternity status:
- Any Flight Attendant within the 1st and 31st week of being pregnant on the July17th Voluntary Furlough bidding close date, and on an S-3 status (intermittent maternity leave), is eligible to bid for voluntary furlough.
- Any Flight Attendant within the 1st and 31st week of being pregnant on the July 17th Voluntary Furlough bidding close date, and on an L-3 status (maternity leave), must provide written clearance to fly from her doctor by July 16th at 1700 Central Time to be eligible to bid for Voluntary Furlough. This clearance must also be received and approved by Company Medical by July 16th at 1700 Central Time. The clearance does not mean that the Flight Attendant must fly -- it only means that the Flight Attendant can fly.
- A Flight Attendant who has had her baby prior to the close of voluntary furlough bids, is eligible to bid for the Voluntary Furlough if documentation is received and approved by United Medical prior to 1700 Central Time on July 16th indicating she has clearance to fly prior to August 31, 2009, the effective date of the voluntary furlough.
10. May I bid for the Voluntary Furlough if I am on Occupational leave?
Your doctor must provide written documentation that must be received and approved by Company Medical no later than 1700 Central Time on July 16th. The documentation must state that you will be cleared to fly before August 31, 2009 in order to be eligible to bid the Voluntary Furlough.
11. May I bid for the Voluntary Furlough if I am on FMLA?
If you have an intermittent Family Medical Leave status, you are eligible to bid for the Voluntary Furlough. You must come off sick leave (OFSL) before August 31, 2009 in order to be placed on voluntary furlough status.
If you are on continuous Family Medical Leave you are eligible to bid and will be awarded the voluntary furlough provide medical clearance with a return to work date prior to August 31, 2009 is received and approved by United Medical by 1700 Central Time on July 16th.
12. What happens if I am on medical or sick leave during the furlough process?
If you are on any type of medical leave or ONSL status on the date bids close for Voluntary Furlough, you are eligible to bid and will be awarded the voluntary furlough provided you come off sick leave (OFSL) prior to the effective date of the furlough, August 31, 2009.
13. Do I pay Union dues while on voluntary furlough?
The AFA Constitution and Bylaws requires that all Flight Attendants pay dues for the first 3 months of any leave status, including voluntary furlough. Flight Attendants should contact the Local AFA Council with any questions about payment methods. If you would like to pay your dues beyond the required first three months to remain an active Member to vote, please contact the AFA International Office Membership Department at 1-800-424-2401, ext. 707 to receive the form for monthly deductions taken out of your checking account. You will also need to ask the Membership Department where you should fax or send a written and signed statement saying that you would like to “leave and remain active.”
14. Can I retire from voluntary furlough?
Yes.
15. How long can a Flight Attendant remain out on furlough before having to re-do initial training?
Service Training
If absence from last day flown is:
- 12 - <36 months: 1-day Refresher Flight Attendant Meeting (Scheduling uses LOAINF)
- 36 - <60 months: 3-day Services Requalification training (Scheduling uses FDLD)
- 60+ months: 5 ½ week LOA/Initial training (Scheduling uses FDLD)
Emergency Training
- You will attend RET if you fall within your regular annual training requirement.
- You will attend RQL, if it is +1 day up to 36 months after your Grace month.
- You will attend Initial Emergency Training, if it is greater than 36 months +1 day from your Grace month.
Initial Emergency Procedures Training
You will be required to attend Initial Emergency Training, if you have been absent for greater than 36 months +1 day from your Grace month up to 60 months. This training currently consists of AED, First Aid and Initial Emergency Procedures.
Initial Flight Attendant Training
You will be required to attend Initial Flight Attendant Training if you have not flown for over five (5) years from your last day worked. The 7 weeks of training will be conducted at WHQIT [Training Center].
16. How do I verify if my Voluntary Furlough Return Form has been received by United?
Send an email to voluntaryfurlough@united.com.
17. If I am aged 65 or older, can I be awarded a voluntary furlough and receive (or continue to receive) my PBGC benefit without affecting my employment status with United?
Yes, if you are 65 years of age or if you will turn 65 during the course of your Voluntary Furlough, you may chose to receive your PBGC benefit and retain your employment at United Airlines. As long as you have a PBGC protected benefit, taking the Voluntary Furlough will have no impact on your ability to collect your PBGC benefit, maintain your employment and all of the benefits of Voluntary Furlough.
18. If I am junior to the class of June 10, 2000, can I bid for the voluntary furlough?
All Flight Attendants who are interested in taking the Voluntary Furlough, regardless of seniority, should bid for the Voluntary Furlough . Even though you may be junior to the June 10, 2000 class, at the time of award there may have been sufficient movement of the' line' based upon Flight Attendants senior to that date bidding for the Voluntary Furlough. This essentially moves the line down making your Voluntary Furlough award possible.
19. I've heard there is a furlough recall in process and I haven't received a recall packet. What should I do?
Contact the Furlough Call Center at 1-800-FLT-LINE (Option 7,8). There is a process in place to ensure the necessary information will be sent to you at your permanent address of record.
20. I am currently on voluntary furlough and have been assigned training in July. I plan to bid for 30-day ANP in August and have submitted a bid for the new voluntary furlough. Am I required to attend the training scheduled in July?
Yes, with the following exception. Flight Attendants who are awarded 30-day ANP for August and who are awarded the voluntary furlough will not be required to attend training. The company expects to award any 30-day ANP for August on July 16, 2009. The voluntary furlough bid award is expected to be released on July 20, 2009. Being excused from training is dependent upon both the award of 30-day ANP for August and a successful voluntary furlough award. All Flight Attendants scheduled for training prior to July 21, 2009 are expected to attend any scheduled training.