In This Edition of the E-Line Involuntary Furlough And Displacement Q&A

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Involuntary Furlough And Displacement Q&A

1. Q: What is an Involuntary Furlough?

2. Q: What is a Voluntary Furlough?

3. Q: What do I need to do if I am furloughed?

4. Q: How long will the furloughs last?

5. Q: Are involuntary furloughed flight attendants entitled to compensation?

6. Q. My status changed from voluntary furlough to involuntary. Am I eligible for furlough pay?

7. Q: What will happen to my unused vacation?

8. Q: What happens to any accrued sick time?

9. Q: Can I apply for unemployment if I am Involuntary Furlough?

10. Q: Are medical, dental, and life insurance benefits available during the furlough period?

11. Q: How will the Company recall furloughed flight attendants?

12. Q: Can I be displaced from my current domicile?

13. Q: Will the Company pay for any expenses if I am displaced?

14. Q: Are displaced flight attendants entitled to settling days?

15. Q: What is the dues obligation for a flight attendant who has been furloughed?

16. Q: Can a member hold office or vote while inactive and on furlough?

17. Q: What is the dues obligation for a member taking a Voluntary Furlough?

18. Q: Are on-line travel passes available to involuntarily furloughed flight attendants?

19. Q: Is a furloughed flight attendant required to get the company’s permission with regards to interim employment?

20. Q: What happens if a furloughed flight attendant accepts other employment or goes to school while on furlough and is then subsequently recalled back to work?

21. Q: Will I continue to accrue pension service credits during the furlough period?

Q: What is an Involuntary Furlough?

A: An involuntary Furlough is a reduction in personnel achieved in inverse seniority order starting with the most junior flight attendant. An involuntarily furloughed flight attendant is one who has received a furlough notice and has actually been furloughed as outlined in Section 19 of the Contract. 


Q: What is a Voluntary Furlough?

A: A Voluntary Furlough is a reduction in personnel achieved in seniority order starting with the most senior flight attendant, in which a flight attendant can volunteer to be furloughed. 

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Q: What do I need to do if I am furloughed?

A: A furloughed flight attendant must file his/her address with the company and advise Inflight Services of any change of address. The Company will provide the Union with these addresses and any change of addresses within 14 days. 


Q: How long will the furloughs last?

 
A: We do not know. Some Company reports indicate that it will not be short term. Recall rights do not expire; therefore all furloughed Flight Attendants must be recalled before hiring off the street. 

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Q: Are involuntary furloughed flight attendants entitled to compensation?

A: Yes. The company is required to pay furlough pay to any involuntarily furloughed flight attendant who has completed at least one year or more of service. Furlough pay is based on the furloughed flight attendant’s years of active service and the average number of hours flown in the 12 months prior to the furlough date as per the chart below. 


Q. My status changed from voluntary furlough to involuntary. Am I eligible for furlough pay?

A. Yes.

YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE 
1 year but less than 2
FURLOUGH PAY = .5 month

2 years but less than 3
FURLOUGH PAY = 1.0 month

3 years but less than 4
FURLOUGH PAY = 1.5 months

4 years but less than 5
FURLOUGH PAY = 2.0 months

5 years but less than 6
FURLOUGH PAY = 2.5 months

6 years but less than 7
FURLOUGH PAY = 3.0 months

7 years but less than 8
FURLOUGH PAY = 3.5 months

8 years but less than 9
FURLOUGH PAY = 4.0 months

9 years and thereafter
FURLOUGH PAY = 4.5 months

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Q: What will happen to my unused vacation?

A: At the flight attendant's option, he/she will receive vacation pay for all unused vacation accrued to the end of the month preceding his/her furlough. The accrued vacation may also be carried over until the flight attendant is recalled. If you choose to be paid out, it will be in a lump sum based on Section 7.B.1. and 2. You must make this decision at the time of furlough, and the decision cannot be revisited. 


Q: What happens to any accrued sick time?

A: It remains intact in your sick bank contingent upon return to active status.


Q: Can I apply for unemployment if I am Involuntary Furlough?

A: Yes. Contact your State Unemployment office immediately upon commencement of the involuntary furlough. If you live in a state other than the one in which you are based, you can file an “out of state” claim in your home state. 

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Q: Are medical, dental, and life insurance benefits available during the furlough period?

A: As long as a furloughed flight attendant is receiving furlough pay, he/she and their dependents are eligible to remain on the company’s group medical, dental, and life insurance plans and for a period of 60 days thereafter. COBRA coverage for medical and dental insurance is available for 18 months or until the flight attendant is covered under another insurance plan, whichever comes earlier. Life insurance coverage ceases after 60 days but the flight attendant may covert the coverage to an individual whole life policy. The Company will provide COBRA coverage rates to you. 


Q: How will the Company recall furloughed flight attendants?

A: Furloughed flight attendants will be recalled in order of his/her seniority at the time of furlough. If a flight attendant fails to accept a recall, they will remain on furlough status. The Company will then continue to recall more junior flight attendants. A furloughed flight attendant who fails to accept a recall when there are no more junior flight attendants on furlough shall be considered to have resigned from the Company.


Q: Can I be displaced from my current domicile?

A: Displacements may occur since a more senior flight attendant can displace a junior flight attendant at a domicile.

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Q: Will the Company pay for any expenses if I am displaced?

A: Other than those flight attendants who would have otherwise been involuntarily furloughed but were not due to the recently announced Voluntary Furlough agreement, reasonable actual moving expenses (not to exceed 110% of mover’s estimate) for household and personal effects up to 16,000 pounds with some exceptions (see Section 5: Moving Expenses) are paid by the company. The moving of more that 16,000 pounds will be considered on an individual basis. Expenses for a total of up to two cars that are registered in the flight attendants name, spouse or dependants will be paid. The moving of a single unit mobile home is also covered.


Q: Are displaced flight attendants entitled to settling days?

A: Flight attendants, upon request, are entitled to 5 consecutive calendar days free from all duty, of which 3 days shall be paid and credited at the rate of 5 hours per day.


Q: What is the dues obligation for a flight attendant who has been furloughed?

A: A flight attendant on involuntary furlough becomes inactive at the end of the month in which they are furloughed. The dues obligation is directed only to members/service charge payers, who are on active status for any month or portion there of. If a member is receiving furlough pay, they are obligated to pay regular dues for those months covered. Therefore, an involuntary furlough equates to no dues obligation except while receiving furlough pay.

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Q: Can a member hold office or vote while inactive and on furlough?

A: No.


Q: What is the dues obligation for a member taking a Voluntary Furlough?

A: A member taking a voluntary furlough is considered to be on a leave of absence in lieu of furlough. Members on leaves of absence are active for the first 90 days of any leave and have a 3-month dues obligation. After 90 days, the member becomes inactive and has no further dues obligation until return to active status.


Q: Are on-line travel passes available to involuntarily furloughed flight attendants?

A: Unlimited on line passes are available for the length of the furlough.

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Q: Is a furloughed flight attendant required to get the company’s permission with regards to interim employment?

A: No. However, a furloughed flight attendant, who can substantiate that alternate employment would require him/her to sign a contract with an interim employer for a specific period of time that would exceed three years has to file a request and submit substantiated documentation for approval by the Inflight Services Department Head prior to accepting such interim employment. If the flight attendant is recalled and unavailable for the above rea­son, he/she will be considered on leave of absence.


Q: What happens if a furloughed flight attendant accepts other employment or goes to school while on furlough and is then subsequently recalled back to work?

A: If the employment requires a contractual com­mitment for a period of up to three (3) years, the flight attendant shall be allowed to fulfill such obligation with the provision that flight attendant shall be considered to be on personal leave of absence commencing with the date of recall until fulfillment of such employment obligation and the flight attendant notified the Company prior to such con­tractual commitment. A flight attendant who has entered into a full time educational program while on furlough and who receives notice of recall before said program is completed, shall be placed on a leave of absence (personal) commencing with the date of recall for up to ninety (90) days or until the end of the current semester, whichever is first.

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Q: Will I continue to accrue pension service credits during the furlough period?

A: Pension service accrue for the first three years of each furlough provided the flight attendant returns to active employment consistent with recall procedures.

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