AFA-CWA Council 12 | United Airlines Los Angeles

Sep 7, 2010

posted 12/2006 - updated 02/2009

LOAs, Special LOAs, 30-Day ANP (WOP), Personal LOA

Call FLT-LINE, option 4, 4, to contact the F/A Service Center (FASC). You may inquire with any questions about Leaves (LOAs: Maternity, Medical Leaves, etc.), FML/FMLA, or 30-Day ANP (WOP).

When you are on Leave status, you will only have access to SkyNet Lite. Full access to SkyNet will not be available. To access SkyNet Lite, follow the link HERE.

Immediate Action - ALL Leaves:

ALL F/As MUST thoroughly review ALL of the information provided in the LOA Packets from SkyNet BEFORE bidding! (Special/Personal LOA, etc.) Information on BADGE Procedures, method of badge return guidelines, & more can be found on the SkyNet LOA Page.

Updates may be available - Click HERE for the direct link to SkyNet LOA Page (logon required)

Special Leave of Absence (LOAs)

Important Leave of Absence Information from MEC website >>

From August 22, 2006 DEAR-AFA:

United has announced that bidding is open for 250 system-wide Special Leaves of Absence for the two-month period of October and November. Before bidding for these leaves it's important to review the Contractual provisions of Section 23.B. and carefully review the company's Special LOA information, particularly as it pertains to medical benefits, pass travel, and vacation or sick leave accrual. Special Leave status will impact each of these benefits and could also affect seniority accrual if on special leave status for more than 180 days in a rolling 12 month period.

After carefully reviewing all of the information about a Special LOA, bidding for the October and November leave may be accomplished through your LOAREQ screen starting on Monday, August 28 through Wednesday, September 13 at 0800 CST. Whether you intend to bid or not, every F/A should check the LOAREQ screen to ensure there is not a request on file that is no longer wanted. This is especially important since your benefits could be affected with the award of a Special LOA.

While it may be beneficial for some Members to have no flying obligation during these two fall months, regular awards of ANP and 30-day ANP will also continue during this time without interference to your benefits. The only exception to this is the award of 30-day ANP directly touching another 30-day ANP or single day of ANP without at least one day off in between. This circumstance would cause change of status to a Personal LOA which would also affect benefits. When requesting any time off, we encourage you to fully review all available information and ask questions about anything that is unclear.

(Scroll down this page for more 30-Day ANP information)

Unimatic Access Restricted While On LOA - From August 3, 2007 E-Lines:

F/As who are on a medical Leave of Absence (LOA) may have had their Unimatic access restricted as a result of programmatic changes completed by Onboard security last month. These F/As will no longer have access to their work histories or other information and must call the F/A Service Center to have their Unimatic profile updated to gain access once they return from their LOA.

Unimatic Access Reinstatement While On LOA - From August 17, 2007 E-Lines:

We've received reports about Flight Attendants being locked out of Unimatic while on Leaves of Absence. We have requested information and the company has advised us that anyone on a Leave of Absence was automatically locked out of Unimatic due to changes in security practices. Those Flight Attendants currently on LOA status who have less than 60 days remaining on their leave can call the Service Center to have access reinstated. Also, the company has informed us they are working to program reinstatement to Unimatic at the 60 day time frame.

Section 23.C of the Contract - Medical Leave of Absence

Upon request, the Company shall grant the following medical leaves of absence: occupational and non-occupational. When leaves of absence are granted due to occupational or non-occupational illness or injury, a Flight Attendant shall retain and accrue seniority for a period not to exceed three (3) years.

(Note: A Flight Attendant is automatically placed on leave of absence for illness or injury on the seventeenth (17th) day after exhaustion of all applicable sick leave credits.)

The three year period was amended in the 2003 Concessionary Agreement and was sent out in the Agreement Mailer to each F/As home with the 2003 Voting Instructions and PIN information.

Special Leave of Absence Information from SkyNet:

The company will offer Special LOA when available based on operational needs via Front Page News (DIS *14168).
Request a Special LOA packet from your supervisor, the FASC or SkyNet.
Read the packet in its entirety and contact the FASC if you have any questions via FLT-LINE option 4, 4.
You will receive a written directive from the FASC advising you of the tasks that need to be completed prior to, during and to return to work from your leave of absence status. This will be the only form of written communication sent to you by the Flight Attendant Service Center for the duration of your leave.

Special Leave Process From SkyNet:

1. Company offers Special Leave
2. Thoroughly read your Leave of Absence Packet
3. Submit Special LOA request via Unimatic LOAREQ screen to initiate request
4. Special LOAs are awarded based on seniority
5. Receive approval of Special LOA from Flight Attendant Service Center (FASC)
6. After training and TSA mandates have been met, return to work

Special Leave Q & A From SkyNet:

Q. Where do I find information about Special Leaves?
A. The Company will announce any availability of Special Leaves approximately 2 weeks in advance of the award. The announcement will be on Skynet and Front Page News in Unimatic. For more information see DIS*48803.

Q. How and when do I bid for a Special Leave?
A . You can request a Special Leave by completing the LOAREQ screen in Unimatic. Your request must be entered before the award night (midnight on the day before the advertised award date) to ensure the request is on file.

Q. How will I know if I received a Special Leave award?
A. Special Leave awards reflect in the FDMS temporary status field #3 and are manually entered as an LOA in the FDWH. A list of F/As awarded is provided to the domiciles for posting on their scheduling board at the end of the business day after the award.

Q. Once awarded am I allowed to decline the Special LOA?
A. Once awarded, a Special Leave of Absence cannot be rescinded

Q. Do I have to be on active status prior to the eff. date of the Special LOA?
A. Yes, you must be cleared to return to work from any temporary status no later than the last day of the month before the special LOA commences. The confirmation of your return to work from the temporary status must be reflected at the time of the award.

30-Day ANP (WOP)

30 Day ANP (WOP) - Directly from Unimatic Front Page News**:

DIS*27241

THE AWARD OF 30 DAY ANP MAY CREATE A PERSONAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE AFFECTING BENEFITS IN CASES AS FOLLOWS:

1) TWO CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF 30 DAY ANP
2) ANY WOP/GWOP/DWOP/MNP DIRECTLY PRECEDING OR FOLLOWING ANP PERIOD. (I.E., THE LAST FA SCHEDULE DAY OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH OR THE FIRST FA SCHEDULE DAY OF THE NEXT MONTH EXAMPLE:
30-DAY ANP FOR SEPT GWOP ON 10/01 OR 08/30 WILL CONVERT TO A PERSONAL LEAVE RETROACTIVE TO 08/30 OR EXTEND TO 10/01.)
3) ONSL WILL NOT 'ROLL' THROUGH A 30-DAY ANP MONTH-YOU WILL NEED TO CALL 'ONSL' AGAIN IN THE NEW MONTH IF IT APPLIES.

NOTE: UNITED WILL NOT SUPPORT UNEMPLOYMENT COMP. CLAIMS FOR 30-DAY ANP.

** To reiterate, 30-Day ANP (WOP) with ANY WOP/GWOP/DWOP/MNP directly preceding or following ANP period will create a Personal Leave of Absence (LOA). Please refer to the Personal Leave of Absence (LOA) packet from SkyNet for more detailed specifics. You must review DIS*27241 (Unimatic) for updated info PRIOR to bidding.

Personal Leave of Absence Info from SkyNet:
Login to SkyNet for most recent/updated information from United

Frequently Asked Questions � Personal Leaves of Absence

Q. What is taken into consideration when granting a Personal LOA?
A. The reason for the request along with the needs of the operation will be taken into consideration when granting approval or denying a personal LOA request.

Q. I am fit for duty why do I have to complete a Medical evaluation form?
A . All leaves that are for a duration of 60 or more days require the completion of a medical evaluation form. The form must be completed, signed and faxed to your regional medical facility based on your assigned domicile 30 days prior to your scheduled return to work date.

Q. Will my benefits/seniority be affected?
A. YES, for information related to the impact on your benefits review your Personal Leave of Absence packet. This packet must be read in it's entirety before requesting a personal LOA.

Q. Why is this process being moved to the Flight Attendant Service Center?
A. To increase efficiency and to allow domicile supervisors to focus on active flight attendants. This process will give you the maximum amount of support to make your return to work as quickly and easily as possible.

Q. If I have additional questions during my leave of absence what are my resources?
A. Refer to the Personal LOA packet located on SkyNet and also available in the domicile. (If you still have questions please contact the Flight Attendant Service Center-LOA team at Flt-Line Option 4,4).

From MEC Special Leave Info (12/06, 01/07, 02/07) -- ANP & 30-day ANP Will Not Affect Benefits If Carefully Used

While it may be beneficial for some Members to have no flying obligation during these two months, regular awards of ANP and 30-day ANP will also continue during this time without interference to your benefits. The only exception to this is the award of 30-day ANP directly touching another 30-day ANP or single day of ANP without at least one day off in between. This circumstance would trigger change of status to a Personal Leave of Absence, which would also affect benefits. When requesting any time off, we encourage you to fully review all available information and ask questions about anything that is unclear.

Use FLT-LINE, option 4, 4, to contact the F/A Service Center (FASC). You may inquire with any questions about Leaves (LOAs), FML/FMLA, or 30-Day ANP (WOP).

Click HERE for the Company Personal Leave of Absence Packet from SkyNet �Leave of Absence Home Page� (login to SkyNet required).

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