What Next?
The Joint Master Executive Council elected new leadership this week to represent the merged Flight Attendant group. With that task accomplished we now have turn our attention towards the Local Councils.
Section X.E.1.e. requires that “Local Councils at those bases where a duplication of Councils exists” will have elections to combine the Councils within 90 days of the “signing of a merged working agreement.” In order to combine the Councils, elections must take place including all members in the location. The following locations have duplicate Councils and will conduct elections according to the schedule listed below.
DCA/IAD DEN EWR IAH LAX ORD SFO
All nomination ballots will be mailed on October 3, 2016
- Nomination period for EWR, DCA/IAD and LAX opens on October 5, and closes on October 25, 2016
- Nomination period for IAH, ORD, DEN and SFO opens on October 6 and closes on October 26, 2016
All Election ballots will be mailed on November 14, 2016
- Elections for EWR, DCA/IAD, and LAX will open on November 16 and close on December 13, 2016
- Elections for IAH, ORD, DEN and SFO will open on November 17 and close on December 14, 2016
The new term of office will begin on 1/1/2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions asked about our new Contract. Please keep in mind that until a provision of the JCBA is implemented we will continue to operate under the provisions of our previous CBA.
1. How do I get reimbursed for Parking Expenses?
The parking reimbursement amount is harmonized effective with the September bid month to $35. The existing parking rules will continue for each group for the time being while we develop the process to harmonize the rules for everyone.
2. How do I get reimbursed for Global Entry under Section 3.V.5?
Global Entry is reimbursable for expenses for governmental fees incurred on or after the start of the September bid month (August 29 for S-CO and CMI, August 30 for S-UA). To be reimbursed, a flight attendant should use her/his existing expense reimbursement process supported by a receipt.
3. How do I use Hotel Self Help in Section 5.B.5?
There is no change for S-UA, Hotel Self Help is new for S-CO and CMI. If a flight attendant arrives at a layover hotel and her/his room is not ready within thirty (30) minutes after arrival, she/he may obtain other accommodations and then claim reasonable actual lodging expenses using her/his existing expense reimbursement process supported by the hotel receipt. Flight attendants should contact the Hotel Desk in advance of engaging in self-help.
4. How do I get reimbursed for the cab expense under section 5.D?
If a flight attendant is away from her/his domicile and the Company doesn’t provide transportation, she/he shall be allowed reasonable actual expenses, incurred for suitable transportation, between the field and lodging place and return. [5.D.1]
A flight attendant will be allowed Ten Dollars ($10.00) for cab or limousine between airport or co-terminal and place of lodging at Domicile points whenever departure time of her/his flight assignment is between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. or when arrival time of the flight is between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. [5.D.2]
Both of these types of expenses can be submitted using her/his existing expense reimbursement process supported by a receipt.
5. How do I get more information about language training under Section 9.G.2?
United has had language training programs available for all of our flight attendants. We are now harmonizing those individual programs into a single program and will post information about it very soon on the Language Qualified section on Flying Together. Please contact your supervisor for more information.
6. When shall S-UA flight attendants expect to see and be paid the international override?
International override will be paid based on each group’s current definition of International. Everyone will see it on their regular paychecks for their September flying.
For S-UA flight attendants, there will not be a separate line item for International Override, instead you will see the $2 International Override added to your basic hourly rate for any International Flying. For example, if you are at top scale, your pay for international trips will reflect the basic rate of $62 plus the International Override of $2, for a total of $64.
7. When and how will Training Pay be paid?
The training rate is changing to 3 hours of flight time pay per day at the applicable basic rate for all flight attendants and is effective for the September bid month.
IT was able to make most of the required changes for September, however the S-CO and CMI flight attendants’ September training pairings will reflect 2:30 in Crew Management System (CMS), however training will be paid at 3 hours of flight time for September.
All flight attendants will have their September training paid on the October 16 check.
8. When will Holiday Pay be paid?
For S-UA, there is no change to the current pay process; Holiday Pay is new for S-CO and CMI. We will collect the data as the holidays occur, however the payment of the holiday pay will not occur until after we have completed programming in the 2nd quarter of 2017. This will include Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day 2017 and your birthday (if it falls in this period). There is no action required by individual flight attendants to get paid.
9. Will eligible S-CO flight attendants continue to receive Senior Premium Pay? If so, when will it be discontinued?
Yes. Senior Premium Pay is part of the S-CO language program. It will remain in place until common Crew Management System, when the new language program will be implemented.
10. For cabin jumpseat, when will boarding priority be based on the combined flight attendant seniority vs. whose metal? When will I no longer have to worry about being denied the jumpseat when a flight is weight restricted?
In keeping with the existing agreement over jumpseat access, boarding priority will remain the same until we reach common Crew Management Sy. We are currently working with the appropriate departments to remove the weight restriction for jumpseat riders. We will advise you as soon as this work has been completed.
11. Does the Commuter Policy take effect at DOS?
The Commuter Policy is listed as a DOS + item with implementation to be developed by the Joint Implementation Team.
12. How does vacation accrue for 2018?
All flight attendants will accrue 2018 vacation from September 2016 through August 2017. Vacation will be accrued utilizing the 120/60 formula in Section 12.A. As this is a change in the Vacation Accrual Year for S-CO and CMI flight attendants, those S-CO and CMI flight attendants who are on a leave of absence during any month September through December 2016 will receive full credit for 2018 vacation for that month (S-CO and CMI flight attendants on leaves of absence during this period will have their 2017 vacation adjusted for the leave).
In Their Memory, We Will Never Forget - A Message from AFA United MEC President Ken Diaz
Date: September 9, 2016
Source: MEC President Letter
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On this 15th Anniversary, whether we cast our eyes upward toward the heavens or bow our head in silent and reflective prayer, our thoughts are with the brave and courageous who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. There were lessons learned on that fateful day. There is no denying that our world and our profession was dramatically altered from that day forward. However, we also learned that out of unimaginable horror and tragedy, there were legendary moments of heroism combined with compassion for one’s fellow man.
We will never forget our 25 Flight Attendant heroes and heroines on those four ill-fated flights ; those who were our first responders who performed duties for which no amount of training could have prepared them. We will always remember Flight Attendant Betty Ong from American Airlines flight 11 who conveyed the first detailed intelligence of what was transpiring on that flight. This served to alert our entire country and fellow crew members traveling in the sky that day. This very information was communicated to our crew members aboard United flight 93 who in turn initiated an act of bravery so selfless as they fought against evil; sacrificing their own lives so that countless other lives could be spared.
We mourn their loss but how can our hearts not be touched by their acts of sacrifice and bravery? My God, they make us all so proud to think of their divine acts of humanity and decency.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO MESSAGE
Within our Flight Attendant Union and our Flight Attendant community at large, regardless of airline affiliation, our family of colleagues worldwide sought and found solace in one another as we worked through our shared shock, disbelief and grief. We got back on airplanes to get passengers and fellow crew members home to their loved ones. We made those reunions and much-needed embraces of love happen.
We also will never forget the thousands who lost their lives on that tragic day. We also owe a debt of infinite gratitude to the hundreds of thousands more who continue to fight in the memory of those who perished to keep all of us as safe as possible in a world that was altered by the events of September 11th. We will never forget not only the Flight Attendants, Pilots, Customer Service Reps and brave passengers who were the first to die in a war that, at the time, we had no idea we were fighting. We will never forget the countless Union-Member First Responders who relinquished their own lives as they rescued others in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Their collective legacy is a strong and powerful one. Let us honor their memory by acknowledging our commitment to unity and our resolve to protect all of the freedoms of expression that make our country great. Let us continue to honor their memory through every action and deed; by never forgetting that on a day filled with so much darkness, they shined a light so bright illuminating a path for us all to follow …of compassion, selflessness and hope.
In their memory, we will never forget.
American Airlines Flight 11 Captain John Ogonowski, First Officer Thomas McGuinness, Flight Attendants Barbara Arestequi, Jeffrey Collman, Sara Low, Karen, Martin, Kathleen Nicosia, Betty Ong, Jean Roger, Dianne Snyder, Madeline Sweeney
United Airlines Flight 93 Captain Jason Dahl, First Officer Leroy Homer, Flight Attendants Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, Deborah Welsh
American Airlines Flight 77 Captain Charles Burlingame, First Officer David Charlebois, Flight Attendants Michele Heidenberger, Jennifer Lewis, Kenneth Lewis, Renee May
United Airlines Flight 175 Captain Victor Saracini, First Officer Michael Horrocks, Flight Attendants Robert Fangman, Amy Jarret, Amy King, Kathryn Laborie, Alfred Marchand, Michael Tarrou, Alicia Titus, Customer Service Reps Marianne MacFarlane, Jesus Sanchez
In Solidarity,
Ken Diaz
President
AFA-CWA United Master Executive Council
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