Section 19 - Safety, Health & Security

SECTION 19

SAFETY, HEALTH AND SECURITY

19.A. SAFETY INFORMATION

19.A.1.

The recommendations of the MEC Safety, Health and Security Committee shall be considered by the Company regarding matters affecting the safety of Flight Attendants. 

19.A.2.

The MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or AFA qualified designee shall be allowed to attend UAL-FAA emergency evacuation demonstrations. The Company will seek the approval of the FAA, the respective government authority, and/or the manufacturer, to permit the attendance of the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/AFA designee at government required certification tests. 

19.A.3.

Upon request, the Company shall review with the LEC President or designee copies of reports concerning occupational injuries (currently Spotfire Daily Safety Reports OIS injury report or future equivalent) and/or inflight incidents involving Flight Attendants. Copies of such reports shall be provided if requested, provided that any report that contains medical information must have the Flight Attendant’s approval before being released and such reports shall be deidentified. 

19.A.4.

The MEC President and/or the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/AFA designee will be provided access to the Crisis Center Observation Room for safety related incidents.

The MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/designee will be granted electronic access to all Irregular Operations Reports (currently IORs or future equivalent) where the Flight Attendant has indicated that they desire the union be provided a copy of the report. The electronic database of these reports shall be searchable. Upon request, the Company shall meet to discuss and review these reports with the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/designee. 

19.B. ACCIDENT/SERIOUS INCIDENT/HIJACKING 

19.B.1.

The Company, upon notification of an accident/serious incident/hijacking involving Flight Attendants, shall promptly notify the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or designee or Local Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or designee. 

These events are defined as follows:

19.B.1.a.

Aircraft Accident - An occurrence which causes damage to a Company aircraft with Flight Attendants onboard in which any person suffers death or serious injury. 

19.B.1.b.

Hijacking (Air Piracy) - Seizure or attempted seizure of a Company aircraft with Flight Attendants onboard by actual or threatened force or violence. 

19.B.1.c.

Serious Incident - An occurrence with Flight Attendants onboard a Company aircraft involving any of the following: 

19.B.1.c.(1).

Serious injury to a Flight Attendant.

19.B.1.c.(2).

Actual passenger evacuation of an aircraft involving use of safety equipment. In the event an evacuation takes place at the gate via stairs or jetway, and Inflight Scheduling (WHQSK) is notified, notification will be as provided herein.  

19.B.1.c.(3).

Fire or smoke onboard resulting in injuries to a Flight Attendant. 

19.B.1.c.(4).

Physical assault or crew interference. 

19.B.1.c.(5).

Recognized decompression.

19.B.1.c.(6).

Severe turbulence resulting in multiple injuries or interior damage and Inflight Scheduling (WHQSK) is notified.

19.B.1.c.(7).

Red Alert.

19.B.1.c.(8).

Amber Alert resulting in a preparation for evacuation and Inflight Scheduling (OPBSK/WHQSK) is notified. Nothing herein shall limit the Company from notifying the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or designee or Local Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or designee of other incidents pursuant to the Inflight Service Emergency Response Manual. 

19.B.1.c.(8).(a).

The Inflight Service Emergency Manual (currently known as Accident/Incident Response Procedures or future equivalent) and any revisions to this manual will be reviewed with and provided to the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/designee.

19.B.2.

Following an accident/serious incident/hijacking, Flight Attendants will be provided with medical attention and, where possible, isolation from the press.

19.B.3.

If hotel rooms are necessary, the Company shall provide single rooms, adjacently located if possible, and shall attempt to provide the Flight Attendants, during their stay, an accurate list of phone calls and visitors to the hotel.

19.B.4.

The Company shall promptly notify the designated emergency contact of each Flight Attendant involved in an accident or hijacking. 

19.B.5.

The MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/designee shall provide the Company with a list of the Go-Team members who are United Airlines Emergency Response Team trained. In the event of any accident (as defined in Paragraph 19.B.1.a. above), the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/designee shall designate up to two (2) members of the AFA Safety, Health and Security Committee on the AFA provided Go-Team list as members of the accident or incident Response “Go-Team”. The two (2) designated Go-Team members shall each be allotted a seat on the Go-Team flight to the aircraft accident or incident Site. in any foreign country, if Inflight Service is granted access to the crash site, the Company will endeavor to include the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or AFA qualified designee among those granted access to the site In such cases, if expedited documentation or transportation arrangements are made for Inflight Service, the Company will endeavor to obtain the same for the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or AFA qualified designee The Company shall maintain a current list of Visa requirements of the countries served by scheduled Company flights and upon request shall provide such list to the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson.

19.B.5.a.

In the event the designated Go-Team members are not able to travel on the Go-Team flight, the Company shall provide the Go-Team members with positive space must-ride travel where service is provided by the Company or make any respective arrangements with partner airlines in order to go to and from an accident or major incident site.

19.B.5.b.

If there are subsequent flights operated by United to an aircraft accident or incident site, the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson may designate up to two (2) additional AFA Safety, Health and Security representatives who are on the AFA provided Go-Team list to travel to and from an accident or incident site. If these subsequent flights are not operated by United the Company will make any respective arrangements with partner airlines. This number may be increased by mutual agreement of the parties. 

19.B.5.c.

In the event of any accident (as defined in Paragraph 19.B.1.a above) in any foreign country, if Inflight Service is granted access to the crash site, the Company will endeavor to include the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or AFA qualified designee among those granted access to the site. In such cases, if expedited documentation or transportation arrangements are made for Inflight Service, the Company will endeavor to obtain the same for the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or AFA qualified designee. The Company shall maintain a current list of Visa requirements of the countries served by scheduled Company flights and upon request shall provide such list to the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson.  

19.C. CREW MEMBER PHYSICAL ASSAULT 

The Company will continue to maintain zero tolerance for assaults and/or interference involving crew members. Upon request, the Company will meet with the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/AFA designee in an effort to resolve related problems. 

19.D. HOSTILITIES 

The Company will notify the MEC President or designee immediately upon receipt of information regarding hostilities and/ or political disruptions which may present a danger to the safety of Flight Attendants at stations into which they are required to fly. At the request of the MEC President or designee, the Company will meet and review the impact of such hostilities and/or disruptions on Flight Attendants. 

19.E. ACCESS TO SECURE AREAS 

The Company will attempt to secure a security badge(s) and customs hologram(s) for MEC and LEC Safety, Health and Security Chairpersons that grant access equal to that of Inflight Service management at their respective Domiciles for the exclusive purpose of dealing with health and safety incidents involving United Flight Attendants. Should the Company be unable to acquire such ID badge(s) in certain Domiciles due to airport specific regulations, the Company will make every effort to ensure escort access to secure areas, such as Customs and Immigration, when health and safety incidents involving United Flight Attendants occur. 

19.F.1. JOINT MEETINGS 

The Company and the MEC Safety, Health and Security Committee shall endeavor to meet and confer at least monthly, on safety, health and security matters pertaining to Flight Attendants. Meetings related to passenger incidents and security issues, such as geopolitical events, may occur more often as necessitated by current and ongoing events.

19.F.2.

The Company will provide flight pay loss to the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson/AFA designee whenever their her/his attendance at meetings concerning the safety, security and health of Flight Attendants is requested by the Corporate Safety Department. 

19.G. CABIN AIR QUALITY 

19.G.1.

United Airlines will monitor aircraft environmental systems, and ensure these systems perform to FAA and appropriate air quality standards. 

19.G.2.

If Flight Attendants are scheduled to work an aircraft being operated with environmental systems which are deferred, they will be informed of the problem prior to its first flight and all flights thereafter, until the malfunction is repaired. Flight Attendant air quality and environmental complaints will be acknowledged by the Company within two (2) business days, and a response will be provided to the Flight Attendant within ten (10) business days, with a copy to the MEC President/designee. 

19.H. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 

If the Company has reasonable knowledge of or if the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or other national health agency of a country in which the Company operates flights notifies the Company that a Flight Attendant has been exposed to a reportable communicable disease during the course of their her/ his inflight duties, the Company shall promptly notify the Flight Attendant, their her/ his Local Council President and the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson.

19.I.  EPIDEMIC & PANDEMIC PROTECTIONS

Upon declaration of an epidemic or pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control or any national health agency, the Company shall promptly meet and confer  with the MEC President, the MEC Safety, Health and Security Chairperson or designee regarding matters related to the health and safety of Flight Attendants and the implementation of the Epidemic & Pandemic Protections in this Section.

19.J. DISEASE TESTING

19.J.1.

In the event any country, territory, state or other government jurisdiction requires a negative test result, for the disease associated with epidemic/pandemic, for entry the following will apply.

19.J.2. 

Flight Attendants who are required to submit to pre-departure disease testing may be required to report up to sixty minutes (:60) more than provided for in Section 6.R.2., both at base and from layover, for a total report time not to exceed two hours and fifteen minutes (2:15) prior to scheduled departure.

19.J.3.

In consideration of reporting early, Flight Attendants will be paid in accordance with the terms of Section 6.R.5.d.

19.J.4.

Notwithstanding the terms of 19.J.2. above, if the testing required for entry will require more than the sixty minutes (:60) provided for, the parties will meet to mutually determine the appropriate amount of time necessary to complete the testing, and such mutual consent of the parties shall not be unreasonably withheld. 

19.J.5.

Standby Reserves who are required to take a pre-departure test while on duty will be paid $25 per test, however they will not be entitled to any additional report pay, as provided for in paragraph 19.J.3., above.

19.J.6.

Any Flight Attendant who is required to take a test on arrival at their destination, will be paid $25 per test.  Additionally, when such required test extends the Flight Attendant duty period beyond the scheduled release from duty, the company will extend the Flight Attendant’s duty time pursuant to Sections 6.R.7.a. and b.

19.J.7.

Once testing is implemented, extended report times, consistent with the terms of this section, will be reflected in the next published monthly bid packages for any known flights that require a pre-departure test.

19.J.8.

In the event that a country establishes a requirement for a pre-departure test after monthly bid packages have been developed, report times for the flights impacted may be extended in accordance with the terms of this section.

19.J.9.

These provisions will remain in effect until such time as testing is no longer required.