From: www.unitedafa.org

Introduction & General Overview

As previously announced through January 22 letters from MEC President Greg Davidowitch and Vice President-Onboard Service Charlie Ahmes, we are proud to introduce an innovative Dispute Resolution, Attendance and Performance Management Agreement.  Through a collaborative effort, AFA and the Company reached an agreement that provides:

1. An expedited process to resolve everyday Contract and Company Policy disputes.
2. A two-track performance management system that includes a more objective attendance policy for Flight Attendants at United Airlines.

This Letter of Agreement is the result of months of intensive work with representatives of AFA and the Company who were guided by a neutral, professional expert experienced in developing and implementing dispute resolution procedures.  We expect many day-to-day frustrations and concerns of Flight Attendants will be eliminated within a far more user-friendly, consistent structure that will resolve issues in a timelier manner.

Prior to implementation there will be many opportunities for Flight Attendants and management to become familiar with the new procedures.  In the meantime, here is an overview of the changes:

Individual Contract and Company Policy Disputes (currently Section 26.C.)

Individual disputes over the Flight Attendant Agreement and Company policy, identified by the Flight Attendant through a report to their Local AFA Council, will use a process that focuses on an interest-based problem solving model, encouraging faster resolution.  The process also provides for a review procedure for individual Contract disputes that are not resolved at the local level.  Fundamental disputes regarding interpretation and application of the Agreement will remain under the purview of the System Board of Adjustment with a neutral arbitrator to review the case. 

Performance and Attendance Management Tracks:

1. Attendance
   The Attendance Program removes subjectivity and creates clear cut rules for attendance.  The program will be applied uniformly and is easily understood.  The new program more objectively defines attendance expectations through a new point-based system. 
2. Performance
   Performance issues such as complaint letters, appearance standards and other issues associated with Flight Attendant Articles of Conduct will be tracked separately from attendance issues.

The agreement provides for the removal of specific notations from Flight Attendants’ Work History.  Those who will have their discipline records cleared include:

• Flight Attendants who have non-disciplinary initial discussions and disciplinary notations of Oral Warnings, Letters of Warning or 3-day suspensions as of the date the Union and the Company agreed on the new dispute resolution process: January 16, 2008. 
• Flight Attendants who, as of the January 16, 2008 agreement date, have been charged with conduct or occurrences, or who are under investigation for conduct or occurrences that would result in non-disciplinary initial discussions, and disciplinary notations of Oral Warnings, Letters of Warning or 3-day suspensions.

Note:  Flight Attendants who have been charged with conduct or occurrences, or who are under investigation for conduct or occurrences, that would result in disciplinary action greater than a 3-day suspension will not have their records cleared of discipline.

Check Your Work History

Under the new program, Flight Attendants will be able to track their attendance points and performance record in Unimatic.  We encourage you to review your work history (FDWH/file number) to become familiar with the entries and take note of your work history prior to January 16, 2008.  If you have any of the entries listed in the paragraph above, consider that those entries are no longer effective even though they are still present in the work history.  Please be patient as we work through the clearance of these entries. This process may take several months to complete.

Transition

We are now in the transition phase, which will continue until the new Dispute Resolution, Attendance and Performance Management process is implemented.  It is expected the transition process will take six to nine months.  During this phase, we will continue to handle Contract, attendance and performance issues as usual. 

Communication and Training

We recognize that clear procedures and expectations for Flight Attendants and management will be critical to the success of this new program.  A comprehensive guide of the new process will be developed for all Flight Attendants and there will be training for all Company and Union representatives. 

There will be many opportunities to review and understand the new process before implementation, and updates will be issued on all AFA and company communication channels.  All AFA updates will also be available for review in our website’s Contract section.