STOP THE PRESS:  (Dec 17) It appears that United might eliminate the policy described in the letter below.  It will be interesting to see United's explanation of how and why it was given to JFK flight attendants in the first place.  Ya know?  Stay tuned...

Original article appears below:

Oh, lovely:  Read this letter from AFA to Jane Allen:

December 16, 2003

Jane Allen, Senior Vice President
Onboard Service
United Airlines
P.O. Box 66100
Chicago, IL 60666

Dear Jane:

It appears that once again the Flight Attendant group is being singled out for disparate treatment. Yesterday, JFK Domicile Manager Maurice Guerico sent a criteria E-note to all New York based Flight Attendants that is a throwback to a time when management and labor were at constant odds. This single event, during this Holiday season is all too familiar and will require us to remind Flight Attendants of their rights when confronted with such a policy. I am not aware of any other employee group who has had an onerous policy imposed on them over the Holiday period. Heavy-handed management techniques are not the hallmark of a new United Airlines. To require documentation for sick leave usage in this fashion is in contradiction to the new relationship between United and it’s Flight Attendants.

To provide medical documentation for this specific absence is unreasonable on its face and is an arbitrary and capricious expansion of existing rule and practice. As you know, the standard for medical clearance after a sick leave period is approximately seven days. This policy in New York suggests otherwise.

I am forced to remind you that under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Company can not require a reserve Flight Attendant to go to United Medical on a day off, further the Company can not require a Flight Attendant to travel to secure the required documents when s/he may be too ill to do so.

If United management insists that a Flight Attendant visit a local doctor (in lieu of United Medical), the Company is obligated to reimburse a Flight Attendant for the costs associated with securing the medical documentation. Additionally, a Flight Attendant is not required to contact the Company on a scheduled day off and a Flight Attendant shall not be considered on sick leave on the days s/he was not scheduled to be available for flight duty.

Furthermore, to suggest that a Flight Attendant Supervisor receive medical documentation is outside of their expertise and not in compliance with the medical confidentiality provisions of our Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Your immediate attention to this issue will serve to secure the relationship between Flight Attendants and management over this Holiday season.

Sincerely,

Greg Davidowitch, President
United Master Executive Council