Full-time Flight Attendants typically work 65-90 paid flight hours per month, with additional hours spent on the ground where the Flight Attendants are still on duty but receive no pay. Under the PPACA employees are only considered full-time if they work 30 hours of service per week or 130 hours per month. Thus, due to their unique work schedules, Flight Attendants may not be classified as full-time employees under PPACA.
“We have seen Flight Attendants initially excluded from federal protections like FMLA due to their non-traditional work schedules,” said IAM General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “The IAM is again fighting to ensure Flight Attendants are not discriminated against under this new law.”
In a Department of Treasury meeting last week called to discuss a proposed regulation involving full time employee status the IAM was the sole union present advocating on behalf of Flight Attendants.
Treasury asked interested parties to submit comments by March 18th about how the PPACA may be applied to various work groups.
IAM’s formal comments can be read here.
