Voluntary Furlough Benefits Extended to All Flight Attendants, No Involuntary Furlough

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Earlier this month, United Airlines began publicly commenting on reducing planned capacity due to rising fuel prices. These capacity changes will be accomplished through reducing flight frequencies, indefinitely postponing the start of flights to certain markets, and exiting less profitable ones. United has revised their expectations of capacity forecasts to be roughly flat for 2011 compared to last year, and Monday announced their intent to slow plans for adding additional international flights and further cuts to domestic flying.

In consideration of all these factors, United has identified an overall reduction of Flight Attendant block hours of approximately 4 percent for the remainder of 2011. We have been working with Inflight to expand voluntary options for Flight Attendants who wish to enjoy time away from work over the next several months with no impact on benefits and seniority. Working together now, to offer this additional discretionary time off, will help mitigate a potentially more serious situation in the fall and protect the jobs of the most junior Members of our community.

The result of these cooperative efforts is the implementation of an incremental Voluntary Furlough Program, which offers discretionary time off with all the benefits and protections afforded Flight Attendants on Voluntary Furlough for the period June 1, 2011 to March 1, 2012 and avoids an involuntary furlough. There is an opportunity for 400 additional Voluntary Furlough’s for a 9-month period for those who are interested.

Those currently on existing Voluntary Furloughs are not being recalled and are not affected by this additional Furlough. Those currently on Voluntary Furlough status may also bid for this additional Furlough to extend the duration of their discretionary time off, except those with a return date of March 2, 2012. With the exception of those due to return in 2012, all Flight Attendants may bid for and will be awarded the voluntary furlough provided they meet eligibility requirements.

Our industry leading Voluntary Furlough language has served our community well, and by implementing these Contractual provisions over the past several years, United has avoided laying off any of our most junior Flight Attendants.

If you are able and interested, please review the Furlough Packet, and be sure to submit your bid for this Voluntary Furlough that will provide time off while maintaining seniority and benefits, while protecting jobs and eliminating the potential for involuntary layoffs in the fall. Voluntary Furlough bids will open on March 30, 2011 at 0800 Central Time and close on April 25, 2011, at 0800 Central Time. Voluntary Furlough awards will be posted no later than 1700 Central Time on April 26, 2011.

In Solidarity,

Greg Davidowitch, President
United Master Executive Council