Sep 10, 2010

Presented by our AFA-CWA LAX Council 12 EAP/Professional Standards Committee

Week 1 through 31: Choices

Congratulations! You’re going to have a baby. You probably have many questions and we are here to help you find the resources and information you need to answer those questions. Be sure to review all of the information in the Company Maternity Packet which is available through SkyNet.

• United AFA Maternity Packet (from unitedafa.org)
• United Maternity Packet (login required)

• Maternity Leave – The Process

• The Maternity Process – What You Need To Do

A Maternity Packet can also be requested and mailed to your home by calling FLTLINE (option 4 Service Center, option 4 Leave of Absence.)

As soon as you know you are pregnant you will need to notify United. You are permitted to fly up to and including week 31 of your pregnancy with the approval of your Physician and proper documentation completed by your Physician. You will need to contact the Flight Attendant Service Center (FASC) and submit the Medical Certification of Pregnancy for Flight Attendants Form / Initial Certification of Pregnancy form. The date you contact the Service Center will be noted in your work history. If you do not submit the proper documentation completed by your Physician, it may delay your ability to fly.

So the first question you probably have is, “Should I continue to fly?” This is a personal decision that you must make with your Physician. You will need to provide your health care provider with accurate details of your job in order to find the right answer for you. The UAL Flight Attendant Job Description is available in the Maternity Packet. Additionally, you will find a more detailed job description in the AFA Occupational Benefits Packet HERE.

Another excellent resource for information about your work environment can be found on the AFA International Air Safety, Health & Security Department Home Page. Just click on health issues in the left hand drop down box and you will find information about cosmic radiation, air quality, communicable diseases, and pesticides by clicking on Air Safety Health & Security/Health Issues.

If you choose to continue to fly through your 31st week, you will need to complete an updated Medical Certification as of your 28th and 30th week of pregnancy. These forms must be completed and faxed to the Flight Attendant Service Center (877-364-2445) in advance of the start of the 28th and 30th week of your pregnancy. If you do not submit the proper documentation completed and signed by your physician, it may delay your ability to fly.

This is an important decision. If your Physician clears you to fly, you may choose to continue working through the 31st week of your pregnancy, or you may elect not to fly. If you elect OR are medically unable to fly, you may use your Sick Leave. If you choose to use your accrued Sick Leave during this time when you begin your Maternity Leave, you will be placed on Maternity Sick Leave (MTSL). You can remain on Maternity Sick Leave until you exhaust your Sick Leave bank, or until the 42nd day following the birth of your child. You will remain an active employee while on this status, your benefits are not impacted, entitling you to all pass travel and interline benefits. 

While on Maternity Sick Leave (MTSL), you will be paid Sick Leave Pay until Sick Leave hours are exhausted. Once exhausted, you remain ONSL (unpaid) until the 17th day following exhaustion when you are automatically placed on Maternity/Non-Occupational Medical Leave of Absence. Maternity/Non-Occupational Medical LOA is an inactive status and you are unpaid. While on this inactive status there is no Sick Leave or Vacation accrual and pass benefits are limited.

You can review Contract Section 19.A.5. of the Agreement for the different pay options if you elect not to fly, but have accrued Sick Leave hours. You may also elect to paper bid. A paper bid will award you a line in accordance with your seniority, and your line will be available for bid by another Flying Partner.

While we are on the subject of Sick Leave pay, we should discuss California State Disability. You are eligible to apply for CA SDI if you live or work in California. It is applicable in your 27th week of pregnancy if your Physician certifies that you are no longer able to fly. If you elect not to fly, you are eligible to collect CASDI in your 31st week. You will need to provide completed documentation to California signed by your Physician and your Supervisor. Contact the California EDD Department for more information. CASDI will continue until 6 weeks postpartum if you have a normal delivery or 8 weeks postpartum if you have a Cesarean delivery. You will find a link to the CASDI website on the local AFA website at on the "Resource Room" page. You may collect both but you may not keep both, Contract Section 19.A.10. states; “A Flight Attendant will remit to the Company any state disability benefits she/he receives while on sick leave. Such benefits will not be credited to the Fight Attendant’s Sick Leave bank.”

• The California Short-Term Disability (CA SDI) link is located on the “Resource Room” page of AFALAX.org.

WEEK 32 through Delivery (Week 40): Time for you!

Advise UAL at the conclusion of your pregnancy. A family status change should be completed within 30 days of the date of birth to add your new dependent(s) to your personnel record. You can contact the Benefits Service Center at 888-825-0188 or online at www.ualbenefits.com. Be prepared to present a birth certificate or social security card.

Birth through Day 42 Postpartum: You have a new baby!

You may remain on Maternity Sick Leave (ONSL) if you have enough hours in your sick bank. If you have no accrued sick leave available, you will be placed on a Maternity/Non-Occupational Medical Leave of Absence 17 days following the day you exhaust your sick leave bank. If you exhaust your sick leave bank in advance of the birth, you will be placed on Maternity/Non-Occupational Medical Leave for the remaining period.

Day 43 through 90 Postpartum: MLOA

You may remain or be placed on Maternity/Non-Occupational Medical Leave of Absence. Sick leave payments will not be made during this period unless you are medically disabled related to your pregnancy.

You may return to flying at any time. If you choose to return to work, you will need to receive clearance to fly from your Physician and UALMD (or designated medical facility) and complete any training requirements. You may fulfill these training requirements while on leave provided you have UALMD approval.

Day 91 through 180: Postpartum

Contract Section 23.D.3. provides you to remain off due to the serious health needs of your child. A completed “Leave of Absence Request due to the Health of Newborn Child Form” must be completed by your Pediatrician and approved by UALMD for this extension. Please note that this is a Personal Leave of Absence. You will be contacted by the Flight Attendant Service Center with a recalculated return to work date.

FINAL NOTES

Insurance

Group medical, dental, and company life continue at your required co-payment until postpartum 90 days.   

Unemployment

If you are denied CA SDI (California Short Term Disability Insurance), you are eligible to file for Unemployment after week 31 of your pregnancy.

Union Dues

You are responsible for the first three months of Union dues on any LOA. 

Seniority

Contract Section 23.D.4. states; “A Flight Attendant on leave status due to pregnancy shall retain and accrue seniority during the leave. She shall not, accrue vacation or sick leave during the period of the leave”.

Transfers

You may “accept” a transfer award while on leave, however, you must be on active status to fill the vacancy on the effective date.

Uniform

There is a maternity loaner uniform available in the domicile on a first come first serve basis. You may also purchase your own jumper from Brookhurst and shorten it and wear it as a tunic with your pants.

Reflections

Our intention as AFA Volunteers is to provide you with information and resources that will allow you to choose your best options during your pregnancy. 

Best Wishes,

Your LAX Council 12 EAP/PS Committee & The Officers & Volunteers in Los Angeles!

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