Yesterday, MEC President Ken Diaz filed a grievance over management’s edict to indefinitely require an absence certificate for all sick calls, including Family Medical Leave events. This reprehensible act by management violates Sections 13 and 15 of our Contract and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
The AFA Legal Department has already been in touch with U.S. Department of Labor officials about management’s action. Expect some news on this front in the coming weeks, if not days.
Right now, the Union has two important ways for Flight Attendants to take action:
If you call on sick leave for a trip as a lineholder that touches a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, we want you to file an LEC worksheet with your Local Council. Please also file an LEC worksheet should you call on sick leave as a Reserve with reserve days on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. In support of the MEC Grievance, we need you to provide specific information and documents about any costs and inconveniences you experience because of management’s new policy that an absence certificate be provided within 72 hours of calling off of sick leave.
Please be sure to attach all receipts for co-pays, doctor’s bills, mileage, childcare, etc., related to providing the certificate.
If you find yourself in a position where a doctor visit is necessary to obtain the company-required absence certificate, we highly suggest utilizing the company-provided on-site clinics. The United clinics are available at no cost to all active United Employees.
If your base does not have a clinic on-site, please contact your supervisor. They will be able to provide you with more information about using a contracted medical center near you. For more information on United clinics, please click here.
It is always good practice to collect and keep a copy of your medical documents that are submitted on your behalf. Should a physician fax your Absence Certificate or FMLA paperwork directly to United Medical, please retain a copy of the transmission form submitted. Absence Certificates should ONLY be submitted to Unite Medical, never a supervisor.
This decision is just another reason to vote YES for a strike authorization vote. Management’s decision to make our work lives even harder demands that we are truly united with a strike vote. Management is trying to distract Flight Attendants from what we need to do in order to obtain an industry-leading Contract and bring management to heal: a massive vote in favor of a strike.
Please check out our strike vote web page for full information on why a strike authorization vote is necessary and how you can participate: www.contract2021.org/strike-authorization-vote
Voting Opens August 1, 2024. The strike vote guide has been mailed to your address on file, along with instructions and your access code so that you can cast your vote.
We understand how invasive and disrespectful management’s absence certificate policy is for Flight Attendants. We will continue to do all we can to fight against this egregious policy. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this newly instituted policy, please direct your emails to base management and copy John Slater, Senior Vice President of Inflight Services, at John.Slater@united.com.