From: www.unitedafa.org

Upcoming Changes to Flying – Don’t Be Distracted

On Thursday, United announced upcoming changes to the Summer/Fall 2011 flying schedule. There will be re-deployment of aircraft and flight exchanges between United and Continental Airlines.

Effective in June 2011, EWR-ZHR, previously flown using a CO 767 aircraft will be assigned and flown using a UA 767-300 aircraft and the company will initiate a second daily flight between IAD-CDG which will be flown using a CO 757 aircraft.

In September 2011, IAD-AMS, previously flown using a UA 777 aircraft will be reassigned and flown using a CO 757 aircraft. The current IAD-CDG flight flown on a UA 777 aircraft will be reassigned and flown using a CO 757 aircraft. Also in September 2011, EWR-BRU, previously flown using a CO 777 aircraft will be reassigned and flown using a UA 777 aircraft. The company stated given these changes, "there will be no shift to the overall balance of scheduled block hours,” between the two operations.

Be reminded: United Flight Attendants fly only on United aircraft and Continental Flight Attendants fly only on Continental aircraft. This will be the case until the operational integration is completed, which follows negotiations for a single Contract for the combined work group. At that time, we will then be able to fly on all aircraft.

The company has explained this shift in flying as a “reallocation of resources” to provide passengers more options while putting the right aircraft in markets based on demand and to manage costs. There was no announcement of the length of time for the re-deployment of aircraft and flying, and no determination has been made as to which United domicile any of the “new” or reallocated flying will be assigned.

United management would like nothing better than for us to be distracted and lose our focus during these times. Please remember this reallocation of flying is part of the integration process. We are familiar with the reallocation of flying between our own domiciles. While this is slightly different, it"s similar in that we are a combined entity now. We need to come together and become one Union to address issues important to all Flight Attendants. We must then, carefully and strategically, bring the Section 6 Negotiations process to a fruitful conclusion. Let’s keep our eyes on the ultimate prize – Section 6 Negotiations and the quickly approaching Representation Election. Together, not only can we do better, we will do better.