A. PERSONAL LEAVES
1. A Pilot
may request and the Company may grant a Personal Leave of Absence for reasons
not covered by other leave policies.
2. A Pilot is eligible for a Personal Leave
not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days, after the completion of twelve (12)
months of continuous employment. A Pilot who has been continuously employed for
five (5) years or more may be granted a Personal Leave of Absence not to exceed
one-hundred twenty (120) calendar days. Personal leaves of other than thirty
(30) or one-hundred twenty (120) calendar days, when requested for good cause,
may be granted to the extent permitted by Company policy.
3. A Pilot who has taken a Personal leave of
Absence as provided in Paragraph 2., (above), will not be eligible for another
Personal Leave until twelve(12) additional months of continuous employment have
elapsed.
4. Personal Leave
in lieu of Furlough is governed by Article 23. of this Agreement.
5. During a Personal Leave, the Pilot will
retain his relative seniority but shall not accrue longevity.
6. In the event a Pilot is required to undergo
any additional training in order to return to Company Service (i.e. training
that the Pilot would not have needed but for his absence), the Pilot will not be
compensated for such training.
7. Personal leaves shall be without pay;
however, a Pilot may elect to be paid any accrued, but unused, vacation
available at the time the Personal Leave is requested or commences. Such use of
vacation shall not extend the total amount of Personal Leave granted.
8. Any benefits or accruals during such leave
shall be in accordance with Company policy.
B. FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE (FMLA)
1. Medical Leave
a. A Pilot shall be
granted a Medical Leave for his own serious
health condition in accordance with the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA) and applicable State law.
b. A Pilot may
remain on Medical Leave for up to seven (7) years. At the end of the seven (7)
year period, the Pilot shall be removed from the seniority list and shall
forfeit all rights to recall or return to service.
c. Pay and Benefits
i. Medical
Leaves are granted on an unpaid basis. A Pilot who has unused sick leave
available at the time a Medical Leave is requested or commences must substitute
that pay for a corresponding amount of unpaid leave period.
ii. A Pilot who has
accrued but unused vacation time available at the time a Medical Leave is
requested or commences may substitute the available vacation time for a
corresponding amount of the Medical Leave period.
iii. Company-provided
benefits will continue for the first twelve (12) weeks of any Medical Leave in
a rolling twelve (12) month period.
iv. A Pilot, if
qualified, may receive other benefits and compensation (i.e. Company or State
provided disability benefits, workers compensation, retirement benefits, or
other insurance benefits) while on Medical Leave.
2. Family Leave
a. A Pilot may request, and the Company shall grant, a Family Leave in accordance with the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and applicable State laws.
b. Family Leave is
granted up to a maximum of twelve (12) weeks in a rolling twelve (12) month
period.
c. Pay and Benefits
i. Family
Leaves are granted on an unpaid basis. A Pilot who has unused sick pay and/or
accrued but unused vacation time available at the time the Family Leave is
requested or commences may substitute this time for a corresponding amount of
the unpaid leave period.
ii. Company
provided benefits will continue for the first twelve (12) weeks of any Family
Leave in a rolling twelve (12) month period.
3. FMLA General
Conditions
a. Except as may be otherwise provided in this
Agreement, all FMLA-qualified leaves of absence will run concurrent with one
another.
b. All Company
provided benefits will be continued at the Company’s expense for up to a
maximum of twelve (12) weeks for any one FMLA leave or a combination of FMLA
leaves taken within a rolling twelve (12) month period. Benefits will cease and
COBRA benefits will apply once a Pilot has reached the twelve (12) week maximum
leave period.
c. Substitution of
paid leave for unpaid leave does not extend the total amount of Medical or
Family Leave available to a Pilot.
d. Any program or
benefit for which a Pilot would ordinarily be required to make a payment,
co-payment or other contribution if the Pilot were not on a leave of absence
will continue to be the responsibility of the Pilot, and may be paid by the
Pilot in advance of a leave or deducted from the Pilot’s pay upon his return from
the leave.
e. A Pilot is required to give as much notice
as is reasonably possible of his need for a leave of absence. To the maximum
extent possible, the Pilot should schedule any planned medical treatment to
minimize the disruption of Company business.
f. A Pilot
requesting an FMLA leave of absence shall obtain medical certification from a
licensed health care provider of the need for the leave, or the continuation of
the leave, or other documentation appropriate to the nature of the leave.
g. A Pilot
returning from an FMLA leave of absence shall be required to obtain medical
certification from a licensed health care provider releasing the Pilot from the
leave.
h. Any change(s) to
a benefit program that occurs during a leave period will be applicable to a
Pilot on FMLA leave.
i. For purposes of
determining FMLA eligibility, a Pilot shall be deemed to qualify under the
hours of service requirement of the FMLA if he has been paid for at least sixty
percent (60%) of the minimum guaranteed hours for the thirteen (13) Bid Periods
prior to the commencement of the FMLA leave (Minimum Bid Period Guarantee X 13
bid periods, multiplied by 60%).
j. A Pilot
returning from a leave of absence of not more than twelve (12) weeks in
duration shall be permitted to return to his former vacancy or may elect to
displace to any vacancy which he could have bid and would have been awarded had
he not been on FMLA leave. A Pilot returning from a leave of absence of more
than twelve (12) weeks in duration retains the opportunity to return to a crew
position based upon his seniority.
C. LOSS OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATE LEAVE
1. A Pilot who is unable to maintain the
medical certificate required for his position (i.e. Captain, First Officer or
Flight Engineer), or, for medical reasons is unable to exercise his medical
certificate privileges, shall be placed on Loss of Medical Certificate Leave,
unless the Pilot voluntarily elects to displace to a status for which he
remains medically qualified. In the event the Pilot is eligible for Family or
Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave at the time his Loss of Medical Certificate
Leave commences, both leaves will run concurrent with one another.
2. Pay and Benefits
as defined in Paragraph B.1.c. 1-4, (above), will apply to Loss of Medical
Certificate Leave.
3. A Pilot is
eligible for Loss of Medical Certificate Leave on his first day of employment.
4. A Pilot
returning from a Loss of Medical Certificate Leave, shall be permitted to
return to his former vacancy, if available, and bid for a schedule, effective
as of the bid period following his return and in accordance with his seniority.
Until the beginning of this bid period, he shall be carried as an excess
reserve.
5. A Pilot may remain on Loss of Medical
Certificate Leave for not more than seven (7) years. At the end of the seven
(7) year period, the Pilot shall be removed from the seniority list and shall
forfeit all rights to recall or return to service.
A Pilot may request, and the Company shall grant up to five
(5) consecutive calendar days of leave to attend services and address family
matters related to the death or funeral of a member of the Pilot’s immediate
family (spouse, child, step-child, brother, sister, parent, grandparent,
grandchild, current parent-in-law, current grandparent-in-law, current brother
or sister-in-law, current son or daughter-in-law) or a relative living with a
Pilot. A Pilot will continue to receive his Minimum Bid Period Guarantee rate
of pay for the period of the leave. A
Pilot must notify Crew Scheduling as soon as possible of the need for the
leave, and may be required to provide verification of the family member’s
death.
A Pilot may request, and the Company may grant, up to five
(5) consecutive calendar days off in cases of serious family emergencies (e.g.
fire, flood, or natural disaster affecting the Pilot’s immediate family or
household). A Pilot will continue to receive his Minimum Bid Period Guarantee
rate of pay for the period of the leave. The Company may require verification
of the nature of the emergency.
A Pilot will be granted time off for severe weather
conditions that create a clear hazard to travel. A Pilot will continue to receive his Minimum Bid Period Guarantee
rate of pay for the period of the time off. The determination of when weather
conditions warrant the granting of such time off shall be subject to Company
discretion.
1. Pilots who are members of the Armed Forces
of the United States shall be granted Military Leaves of Absence in accordance
with applicable law.
2. During the first
twenty one (21) days of Military Leave of Absence, a Pilot shall retain seniority
and accrue longevity, and accrue all the benefits of an active Pilot.
Thereafter, a Pilot shall retain seniority and accrue longevity, but shall not
accrue vacation or sick leave credit.
3. Re-employment
rights and benefits shall be in accordance with the Uniformed Services
Employment Rights Act.
H. LEAVE FOR JURY DUTY OR SUMMONS TO APPEAR
The Company will grant a leave for a Pilot summoned for jury
duty. The Pilot must present the applicable summons to the Chief Pilot before
the leave will be approved. A Pilot will be paid at his Minimum Bid Period Guarantee
rate of pay and shall suffer no loss in longevity, benefits or accruals and may
keep any jury duty pay received. A Pilot shall immediately notify the Company
on his release from jury duty so he can be placed on flying status. A summons or subpoena for court service, other
than jury duty, will also be considered a valid reason for excused absence
without any loss of Minimum Bid Period Guarantee rate of pay, longevity,
benefits, or accruals.
1. Leaves for Master Executive Council and
other Association business shall be granted in accordance with the following:
a. Requests for release from duty for a Pilot
attending to Association business shall be made to the Chief Pilot with a copy
to Crew Scheduling. Such requests shall be signed by the President of the
Association or by a member of the Emery Master Executive Council. These
requests shall be given to the Company as far in advance as possible. The
request will indicate names, dates, and duration for which the release is
requested.
b. In the event
difficulties occur in connection with the release of a Pilot(s) due to
operational requirements, Crew Scheduling shall contact a member of the MEC.
The Company shall make every effort to accommodate MEC requirements.
c. The Company
shall pay a Pilot(s) for loss in pay or minimum guarantee, whichever is greater,
while on authorized Association business.
d. The Association
shall reimburse the Company for Loss of Pay paid to a Pilot(s) on leave for
Association business under Paragraph I.1.c. (above), as provided in the
negotiated Letter of Agreement.
2. Leaves for Pilots elected or appointed to
the National Office shall be granted, at the request of the Pilot, for up to
the length of the Pilot’s term of office. In such case, the Association shall
be responsible for pay and other benefits. The Pilot shall retain any unused
accruals until his return to duty and shall continue to accrue longevity during
the term of the leave.
1. A Pilot wishing to request a leave of
absence shall apply with the Chief Pilot or his designee. In cases where the
Pilot wishes to return to service prior to the expected return date of his
leave of absence, or where the leave was of indefinite duration, or where the
leave was for more than one (1) bid period in duration, the Pilot shall give
two (2) weeks notice to the Chief Pilot or his designee of the Pilot’s
projected return to service date.
2. A Pilot, upon his return from a leave of absence of more than one (1) bid period, shall be permitted to return to his former vacancy, if available, and bid for a schedule, effective as of the bid period following his return and in accordance with his seniority. Until the beginning of this bid period, he shall be carried as an excess reserve.
A pregnant Pilot may request and shall be granted up to four
(4) weeks of Post Natal Leave for purposes of child birth recovery and child
nurturing. This leave will be without pay and benefits unless the Pilot is
eligible for other pay or benefits as set forth in Paragraph B.1 and B.3., (above).