Source: unitedafa.org

Management has declared Limited Critical Coverage at all domiciles beginning July 30 through August 2, 0215.

During bargaining for the 2012-2016 Contract, the company and the Union reached agreement on the Limited Critical Coverage language set forth in Section 9.J.3. of the Contract. Specifically, this language allows the company to compensate pre-merger United Flight Attendants at 1.5 times their hourly rate of pay as an incentive to encourage the pick-up of open flying.  Lineholders are not required to be available for the two hour standby period during Limited Critical Coverage. 

Limited Critical Coverage provides for the compensation, at a higher rate of pay, to Flight Attendants who pick up IDs from open flying that check-in during the identified period after the announcement is made.

Following the announcement of Limited Critical Coverage, IDs picked up via open flying will be paid at 1.5 times her/his rate of pay during the Limited Critical Coverage period. You must fly the trip to be paid the incentive.

Review of Open Flying Processes:
The regular open flying processes will run each day at 1200 awarding IDs for the remainder of the schedule month. The open flying run at 1500 will only award IDs starting the next day. Once Limited Critical Coverage is announced, Flight Attendants who are awarded open flying that checks in on July 30 through August 2, 0215 in the 1200 and 1500 Open Flying runs will be paid at 1.5 times rate of pay during the period specified in this announcement.   

After 1200 and before Reserve Preferencing begins at 1800, Lineholders wishing to pick up an ID departing the next day in the identified critical coverage time period, should submit an Open Flying request. Crew Scheduling will process open flying and Flight Attendants will be notified by Crew Scheduling following the normal notification process. Reserve Preferencing will still run at 1800 local time. Lineholders wishing to pick up trips after the 1800 Reserve Preferencing run may still do so, and will also be compensated at the 1.5 times rate of pay if the trip departs during the designated Limited Critical Coverage time period. Contact Crew Scheduling to submit an open flying request after 1800 for IDs departing the next day. 

During the period of Limited Critical Coverage, we have reached agreement with management that following the 1500 run of open flying and before Reserve Preferencing begins, open flying for the next day will be run more frequently to ensure that any Lineholder who wishes to pick up an ID at this incentive rate of pay is able to do so. After 1800, Lineholders wishing to pick up open flying for the next day should contract Crew Scheduling to submit an open flying request.

Reserves may only pick up an ID on their days off provided the ID is scheduled to return to the home domicile in time for a legal rest prior to 0700 of the next scheduled Reserve day as set forth in Section 10.F.2.  At the company’s option, this requirement may be waived. When a Reserve picks up an open ID on scheduled days off, there will be no restoration of minimum days off under any circumstances. 

Please contact your Local Council with any additional questions.