Only two full days remain before Voluntary Furlough bids close at 0800 Chicago Time on Monday, September 22^nd.  The Unimatic DIS page *32672 that lists the number of first choice bid preferences was showing a total of 1911 bids on file as of yesterday.  Remember this page, also available for view on www.unitedafa.org, does not indicate eligibility or whether a Flight Attendant's seniority can hold the bid they have entered as their first preference and the information could change before the bidding closes.  It's also important to keep in mind that the DIS page does not list second, third, fourth or fifth preference bids.

We continue to encourage all Flight Attendants to bid for a Voluntary Furlough if you are in a position to do so.  Bids for the Voluntary Furlough may be entered through Unimatic screen VOLUN or by following the prompts in FLT-LINE.  Since the Voluntary Furlough program provides attractive provisions such as maintaining medical and dental benefits along with your place on the seniority list, the protection of your Contract and your Union, we were successful in attracting enough bids during the last Voluntary Furlough to avoid the involuntary furlough of any AFA Member.  We hope to report the same results from this bid next week.

Once the bids close on Monday the award process will begin.  This process includes a determination of need for furloughs up to the 1550 slots originally announced, the Flight Attendant's eligibility for the bid and the award in system seniority order.  AFA will monitor the award process and advocate for the best possible results for all Members, including every effort to protect the jobs of our most junior members.  The award will be announced by 1700 on Wednesday, September 24^th.