Voluntary Furlough Closes Monday – Is Your Bid on File?

Next Monday January 9, 2012 at 0800 Central Time, the bid for Voluntary Furlough closes, and thus far United reports that 1406 Flight Attendants have submitted bids for this program.  United has also informed us that the DIS page, DIS*32672 will be updated once each day during this final weekend.  As we come down the last days for bidding, we want to remind those of you who may be undecided about this program, of its benefits.

Flight Attendants who choose to volunteer for a Voluntary Furlough, which is awarded in system seniority order, will:

• Continue to accrue seniority
• Retain medical and dental benefits
• Retain travel benefits
• May retire from Voluntary Furlough
• Have the ability to vote on any Tentative Agreement (T.A.) that results from the Expedited Mediation process, if you are an active Member in good standing
• Have the ability to participate in any Early Out/Voluntary Crossover Program that may result from a T.A. coming out of Expedited Mediation, if you meet the negotiated criteria/eligibility requirements
• Receive unemployment, if your State allows (please see the Q&A Section on our website)
• Take advantage of the discretionary time off while enjoying the benefits afforded by our Contract
• Help out our more junior Flying Partners by protecting their jobs

Combined and separately, these are great reasons to participate in the Voluntary Furlough.  As a group, we have successfully managed this issue for over the past decade, taking care of each other, and will continue to do everything we can throughout this process with your help.  So if you are thinking of taking advantage of this program, please don’t wait until Monday to submit your bid, do it now.  The weekend will be over before you know it, so don’t hesitate and run the risk of missing out.

All active and inactive Flight Attendants are eligible to bid for the Voluntary Furlough.  We remind those Flight Attendants currently on Voluntary Furlough, who wish participate in the new Voluntary Furlough, to submit a bid to be eligible to be awarded.  

Voluntary Furlough bids will close on Monday, January 9, 2012 at 0800 Central Time with awards to be posted no later than 1700 Central Time the same day.  

For additional information, please contact your Local Council Office and check our website for updated Voluntary Furlough information.  If you are interested in bidding for a Voluntary Furlough please refer to the March 2012 Voluntary Furlough Information Packet and read it carefully.  

Information regarding the Voluntary Furlough or the Partnership Program may be found on our website at unitedafa.org/schedule/furlough.