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 a surplus. All options will be exhausted before an involuntary furlough is imposed.

2. Will there definitely be 6,246 Flight Attendants placed on furlough status starting August 31, 2003?

The 6,246 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. Previous furloughs have resulted in the initial number given by United as a high estimate, with the actual number of awards being less.

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, at her/his request, for personal reasons due to hardship, with the approval of the Company. Hardship requests for return to work will not be considered based on the Flight Attendant contribution to the cost of medical or dental benefits.

If a recall is necessary prior to the termination of the specified duration of the voluntary furlough, recall will first be offered to those involuntarily furloughed, followed by voluntarily furloughed Flight Attendants in inverse order of seniority.

4. If I am voluntarily furloughed, am I subjecting myself to surplus to a domicile other than the one from which I accepted 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.

5. May a Flight Attendant retire from furlough without having to come back and fly a trip?

The company is willing to waive the requirement of having to return to work and fly a trip prior to retirement.

6. Will United contest unemployment for voluntary furloughs?

No. Check with your state unemployment office (the state from which you are furloughed) for your specific unemployment benefits.
(http://www.doleta.gov)

7. Do I lose all rights to return to United if I am involuntary 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.1. of our Contract (page 147):

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 & there are contractual occupational benefits that are provided by the Flight Attendant Agreement. 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, called temporary total disability pay, and your medical bills that result from your work-related injury. You may even 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 is broken into three pieces:

1. Any Flight Attendant within the 1st and 31st week of being pregnant on the July 23rd voluntary furlough bidding close date, and on an S-3 status (intermittent maternity leave), is eligible to bid for voluntary furlough.
2. Any Flight Attendant within the 1st and 31st week of being pregnant on the July 23rd voluntary furlough bidding date, and on an L-3 status (maternity leave), must have written clearance to fly from her doctor by July 22, 2003 to be eligible to bid for voluntary furlough. This clearance must also be received at United Medical by July 22, 2003. The clearance does not mean that the Flight Attendant must fly -- it only means that the Flight Attendant can fly.
3. A Flight Attendant who has had her baby prior to July 23, 2003, is eligible to bid for the voluntary furlough if she sends documentation to United Medical from her doctor that gives her clearance to fly before August 30, 2003.

10. May I bid for the voluntary furlough if I am on Occupational leave?

The Flight Attendant’s doctor must provide written documentation to United Medical by July 22, 2003. The documentation must state that the Flight Attendant will be cleared to fly before August 30, 2003 for the Flight Attendant to be eligible to bid the voluntary furlough.

11. May I bid for the voluntary furlough if I am on FMLA?

If the Flight Attendant has an intermittent Family Medical Leave status, he/she is eligible to bid for the voluntary furlough. If he/she wants to be eligible to bid while on a continuous Family Medical leave, United Medical must receive written documentation by July 22, 2003 stating that the Flight Attendant will be cleared to fly before August 30, 2003.

12. What happens if I am on medical or sick leave during the furlough process?

Flight Attendants who are on any type of medical leave, including ONSL must have documentation on file with United Medical clearing them to work by the award date to be eligible to bid and be awarded a voluntary furlough. Any medical or ONSL leave that occurs between the bid, award, and effective period must have medical clearance to fly by the effective date, or the voluntary furlough award will be rescinded.

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 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.”

AFA International Office Membership Department
Mary Beth Ziegler – 1-800-424-2401, ext. 744
Angela Davis – 1-800- 424-2401, ext. 843
Catrina Womack- 1-800-424-2401, ext. 832