United To Recall 600 Flight Attendants

[ualobserver]

Associated Press
Published January 16, 2004, 10:08 AM CST

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. -- United Airlines is recalling 600 more flight attendants who were on voluntary furlough.

The flight attendants will return to duty starting March 15, based on seniority. They will join another 400 flight attendants who had been scheduled to return on April 1.

"We're increasing aircraft hours and made changes to our flight schedules that necessitates a recall," United spokesman Jason Schechter said Friday.

The Association of Flight Attendants informed its members of the recall on its Web site on Thursday, calling it "good news for our jobs."

United has been restructuring under federal bankruptcy protection since December 2002, and that has entailed significant cutbacks in labor and elsewhere. The nation's No. 2 airline has said it hopes to emerge from Chapter 11 by June 30.

With the recall, United will employ about 16,500 flight attendants and about 60,000 workers overall.

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This bodes well for UALs future. Unsure of the effect on flight attendants on long term (up to 4 yrs) voluntary furloughs. It sure would be better if UAL offered all flight attendants on furlough the opportunity to come back and then selected based it on their hire date (more senior first, etc...)

 

[spacewaitress]

I heard in RET (Recurrent "Emergency" Training) yesterday that they may be surplussed to different bases based on the needs of the schedule...meaning the increase of flying due to "TED"

Anyone know anything definite?

Paul

 

[ualobserver]

Heard nothing about surplusses. But the contract says they go back to their original domicile. AFA web site details where:

http://www.unitedafa.org/res/furlough/r/20...otification.asp

 

[Bear96]

They can only be surplussed if they are the most junior people at their domicile, unless they are also going to surplus other people at the domicile who were not on VF.

 

[JungleClone]

It's not just due to increased Ted flying. Think of the timing. Their recall is slated for April, which happens to coincide with the traditional summer buildup. Most major airlines are planning on anywhere from 3-10% capacity increases this year.

 

[Cosmo]

Also think about the possibility of increased mainline flying to replace some of ACA's feed in larger markets at ORD and IAD.

 

[cltvff]

Regardless of how you view this, it represents a company on the mend. Compare this new to that coming out of CCY. Congratulation all!