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United & AFA Reach TA For Flight Attendants-24 June 2016 - ratified 12 Aug 2016

Old Jun 24, 2016, 9:03 am
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http://unitednegotiations.com/

AFA - United is United
We have a ratified contract. With some of the highest numbers in AFA history, over 90 percent participated in the vote with 53% voting to ratify the agreement. You have participated in a historic vote and there is no doubt that every single one of you is deeply engaged and cares about our future.

United Airlines Flight Attendants Ratify Joint Contract

August 12, 2016

CHICAGO, Aug. 12, 2016 – The flight attendants at United Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today ratified a contract covering 25,000 flight attendants. Over 90 percent participated in the vote with 53 percent voting to ratify the agreement. This agreement was reached on June 24, 2016, with assistance from the National Mediation Board.

“The high participation in this historic vote demonstrates the deep care Flight Attendants have for their future at the new United Airlines. The contract provides immediate economic gains, sets a new industry standard and ensures Flight Attendants can achieve the benefits of a fully integrated airline," said Sara Nelson, AFA-CWA International President. "This contract would not have been possible without the commitment of Oscar Munoz to unite United Airlines. We appreciate his leadership and the assistance of National Mediation Board Chair Linda Puchala, who was instrumental in helping the parties reach agreement. With the ratification of this contract, we look forward to a great spirit of labor relations at United that fully recognizes the contributions of the people who breathe life into the friendly skies."

Under the new agreement, all United flight attendants will be joined by a single contract, and united by a shared purpose to build the best airline in the world.

“Our flight attendants are the best in the business and deserve this industry-leading contract. I want to recognize the efforts of both negotiating teams, and in particular AFA President, Sara Nelson, for her strong partnership to get the agreement done to move us all forward together in the new spirit of United. When I took this job last year, I promised to turn the page and write a new chapter in our approach to labor and management relations at United. What matters is proof, however, not promises. Thanks to today’s vote, I am proud to say that so far this year we’ve ratified new agreements covering more than 65,000 of our employees,” said Oscar Munoz, United Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer.

The five-year agreement includes double digit pay increases, enhanced job security provisions, maintains and improves healthcare, protects retirement and increases flexibility.
AFA's "Comprehensive Summary of Our Tentative Agreement" - July 2, 2016 (31 pages)

Complete TA - July 11, 2016 (373 pages)

AFA-CWA United Airlines 2016 Tentative Agreement Video


United And AFA Reach Agreement For Flight Attendants

CHICAGO, June 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- United and the Association of Flight Attendants announced today that they have reached an agreement on terms of a joint contract that would bring the airline's more than 25,000 flight attendants together into a single work group. The agreement is subject to approval by the Joint Master Executive Council, including all Local Presidents, after which it will become a tentative agreement and will be put out for ratification by flight attendants. The parties will work this weekend to finalize the contract language.
"Today's agreement honors the invaluable role that our flight attendants contribute to United's success and brings us closer than ever to uniting them under a single contract," said United President and Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz. "It's been a long journey and I'm grateful to our outstanding flight attendants – the most talented and professional inflight team anywhere in the world – for all they do to keep our customers safe and comfortable."
United thanks both negotiating teams and the National Mediation Board for working to reach this agreement.
United has joint collective bargaining agreements covering the majority of its represented employees and has reached new agreements with three work groups so far this year. Recently, the company's employees who are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted to ratify new contracts. Earlier this year, United's pilots voted to ratify a contract extension more than a year ahead of their contract's amendable date, following an expedited negotiations process with the Air Line Pilots Association. The company's dispatchers also voted recently to ratify a contract extension. Additionally, the airline is engaged in mediated negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
AFA statement - June 24

A few moments ago, our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and the company came to an agreement on the terms of a joint collective bargaining agreement. The parties will work to finalize the language this weekend for review by the Joint Master Executive Council (MEC), including all (CAL, CMI, UAL) Local Presidents. These directly elected leaders of all 25,000 Flight Attendants, will meet in Chicago on Monday and Tuesday, June 27 & 28.
AA Joint MEC Unanimously Approves Tentative Agreement - June 28

AFA contract site

Some of these provisions include:
  • Improved single pay scale with base rates topping out in the 13th year at $62.00 and moving to $67.11 throughout the agreement.
  • $2.00 international override per hour and reimbursement for Global Entry.
  • $5.00 incentive rate of pay for all flying between 200 and 330 hours in a quarter.
  • Preserved our Flight Attendant-specific healthcare plan, with additional Medical Plan options.
  • Profit Sharing
  • Protected Scope language that defines Flight Attendant work as belonging to AFA members on the United Airlines System Seniority list – all CAL/UAL/CMI.
  • No Furlough Letter for all Flight Attendants on seniority list at date of ratification.
  • Holiday Pay for 5 holidays each year.
  • Per diem at $2.20 Domestic / $2.70 for International with automatic $0.05 increase every other year
  • Three (3) hours flight time pay and credit for training, plus up to five (5) hours deadhead pay each way to and from training.
  • Industry-leading Reassignment protections and pay.
  • Commuter Program without usage limit and cabin jumpseat qualifies as an available seat for commuting purposes.
  • No weight restrictions for CJA.
  • 12 days off for Reserves and 12 hours free from duty at home between trips.
  • Reserves have ability to trade assigned trips with Lineholders or other Reserves.
  • New ability for Reserves to pick up flying from Lineholders on days off.
  • Domestic 10 hours free from duty on layovers, with at least 8 hours place of lodging at hotel.
  • 12 hours free from duty at home between trips for Domestic Lineholders, but waivable at Flight Attendant option to 10 hours when trading or picking up.
  • Contractual hotel standards with downtown/downtown-like hotels for layovers of 19 hours or more.
  • Hotel Gainsharing, domestic and International
  • Vacation days ranging from 12 days to 40 days, with an additional 7 day Flex Vacation and optional Vacation Fly Through.
  • Maintained and improved Retirement Plans
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United & AFA Reach TA For Flight Attendants-24 June 2016 - ratified 12 Aug 2016

Old Jun 5, 2018, 9:24 pm
  #166  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
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On my flights I have heard lots of grumbling about this. Some FAs have told me they may just retire. I heard that Norma may retire in October also.
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Old Jun 5, 2018, 9:32 pm
  #167  
 
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September will be my last month as an International Service Manager (ISM) as September is the last month of the ISM program before transitioning to the Flight Service Leader (FSL) program. Unfortunately for me I didn't get awarded a FSL vacancy in fact nobody hired 1999-2018 got awarded FSL vacancy positions. Most junior FA to get awarded a FSL vacancy is a September 1998 hire so its back to regular FA position for me (For the time being at least)
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 8:11 am
  #168  
 
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With the combined FA workgroup starting next week - is there any cause for concern regarding an IT scheduling/glitch or hiccup on the first few days of October? I’m hoping UAs systems are fully vetted but the memory of reservation cutover debacle of March 2012 still stings a bit
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 8:19 am
  #169  
 
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Originally Posted by n049922
With the combined FA workgroup starting next week - is there any cause for concern regarding an IT scheduling/glitch or hiccup on the first few days of October? I’m hoping UAs systems are fully vetted but the memory of reservation cutover debacle of March 2012 still stings a bit
Any major IT cutover will have some hiccups, the question is just how significant those hiccups are. I haven't heard anything overly negative, but I also haven't heard anything positive so I'm erring toward caution.

Personally, I'm avoiding UA for at least the first week of October (well... it helps that my trip that week is to BDA, a location where neither UA nor *A can get me to on anything resembling a sane routing, schedule, or fare)
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 8:24 am
  #170  
 
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I'm thinking this will be a non issue. I've seen some complaints from my FA family member, as she lost some seniority in the crossover, but I'm confident this will not be a repeat of 2012.
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 11:44 am
  #171  
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On m recent flights I got to talk to two younger FAs with lower seniority rankings. Both of them expect to be on fewer long-haul flights come October.
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 12:07 pm
  #172  
 
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I peruse the UA AFA MEC site, for quite some time they have been emphasizing and writing about it. While no transition is flawless, it *feels* like they are very prepared for this.
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 6:04 pm
  #173  
 
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Originally Posted by JOSECONLSCREW28
September will be my last month as an International Service Manager (ISM) as September is the last month of the ISM program before transitioning to the Flight Service Leader (FSL) program. Unfortunately for me I didn't get awarded a FSL vacancy in fact nobody hired 1999-2018 got awarded FSL vacancy positions. Most junior FA to get awarded a FSL vacancy is a September 1998 hire so its back to regular FA position for me (For the time being at least)
Sorry to hear that, I'm under the impression that a lot of sCO crew were.... demoted for a lack of a better term.
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 6:46 pm
  #174  
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Originally Posted by JOSECONLSCREW28
September will be my last month as an International Service Manager (ISM) as September is the last month of the ISM program before transitioning to the Flight Service Leader (FSL) program. Unfortunately for me I didn't get awarded a FSL vacancy in fact nobody hired 1999-2018 got awarded FSL vacancy positions. Most junior FA to get awarded a FSL vacancy is a September 1998 hire so its back to regular FA position for me (For the time being at least)
It is certainly unfortunate that merit has taken a back seat to seniority in these determinations. And it's crazy that a 20 year employee counts as "junior" in this context!
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 10:10 pm
  #175  
 
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Originally Posted by Kacee
It is certainly unfortunate that merit has taken a back seat to seniority in these determinations. And it's crazy that a 20 year employee counts as "junior" in this context!
what happens when unions are involved— merrit takes a back seat and the only thing that matters is how long you’ve been there.

On a flight now with a positively grumpy service crew. So i guess we have more of that to look forward to now.

<flame starts now>
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 10:17 pm
  #176  
 
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Originally Posted by Kacee
It is certainly unfortunate that merit has taken a back seat to seniority in these determinations. And it's crazy that a 20 year employee counts as "junior" in this context!
So sad.
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 11:03 pm
  #177  
 
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Lets not get ahead of ourselves here.

The new hires from the sCO side we’re living on borrowed time, displacing senior sUA crews on plum long haul routes.

Now reality is setting in and the seniority ranks are being rationalized to how they should have been 5 years ago. They got to live in a dream for awhile but it’s over.

No seniority integration is going to make everybody happy, but the second reality is that the sUA side is both larger in size and had more power in the negotiations given their more senior crews in terms of outright seniority. Seniority always takes precedence in the airline industry, and it should. This isn’t Asia or the Gulf, this is America, and any “merit” system is dubious at best, and socially regressive at worst. No thanks!
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Last edited by tuolumne; Sep 26, 2018 at 11:09 pm
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 11:10 pm
  #178  
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Originally Posted by tuolumne
Lets not get ahead of ourselves here.

The new hires from the sCO side we’re living on borrowed time, displacing senior sUA crews on plum long haul routes.

Now reality is setting in and the seniority ranks are being rationalized to how they should have been 5 years ago. They got to live in a dream for awhile but it’s over.

No seniority integration is going to make everybody happy, but the second reality is that the sUA side is both larger in size and had more power in the negotiations given their more senior crews in terms of outright seniority. Seniority always takes precedence in the airline industry, and it should.
same thing happened to my brother, a DL Captain. He lost ground when the NW pilots were combined with the DL list. He wasn't happy, but he accepted it.
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 11:16 pm
  #179  
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Originally Posted by tuolumne
Seniority always takes precedence in the airline industry, and it should.
A dubious opinion stated as if it were fact.

The U.S. legacies' inability to shed poor employees, and requiring they instead be given plum assignments based on "seniority," is one of the heaviest anchors dragging down their service quality.
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Old Sep 27, 2018, 12:42 am
  #180  
 
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Originally Posted by Kacee
A dubious opinion stated as if it were fact.

The U.S. legacies' inability to shed poor employees, and requiring they instead be given plum assignments based on "seniority," is one of the heaviest anchors dragging down their service quality.
No particular disagreement, but I'm not sure how you'd practically implement a better system. You've got a bunch of people who should all be identical, doing an identical job. Sure we can say we had a good/bad experience with an FA, but at an organizational level how can you figure that out? Just about any system I can think up is game-able: based on customer feedback? I'll have my friends write in. Based on co-worker reviews? I'll bribe them to give me good marks. Based on how long I take to complete the dinner service? I'll rush through it ignoring my pax.

Not saying its right; just not sure I see the alternative.
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