SECTION 17  FILLING OF VACANCIES

A. Awarding of Permanent Vacancies

 1. A permanent vacancy shall be any vacancy (not caused by pregnancy leave, medical leave, or other leaves) anticipated to exist for longer than ninety (90) days.  Any other vacancy will be classified as temporary.

 2. The Company will institute a permanent bid system.  The Flight Attendants will be required to submit a permanent bid on duplicate forms supplied by the Company and will have the right to change her permanent bid anytime between the first (1st) and tenth (10th) of each month.

 3. In the event that a vacancy occurs, the Company will award openings to the senior Flight Attendant indicating a preference for the location of the vacancy based on her permanent bid.  The Flight Attendant will be advised in writing.

 4. Any vacancy that is not bid through the permanent bid system, will be assigned to the most junior Flight Attendant, or at the Company's discretion by hiring a new Flight Attendant.

 5. A Flight Attendant who is awarded a permanent vacancy pursuant to voluntary bid may be required to remain in that vacancy for sixty (60) days from the effective date of that vacancy.

 6. A Flight Attendant awarded or assigned to fill a permanent vacancy which requires moving from one domicile to another will normally be given not less than twelve (12) days from the date the award or assignment is given to report to the domicile.  If a Flight Attendant is required to report to the new domicile in less than twelve (12) days, she will be paid reasonable expenses from the day she is required to report to the new domicile up to the twelfth (12th) day after the award or assignment.

 7. A Flight Attendant's schedule will be adjusted by mutual agreement with the Company to allow four (4) consecutive days off to search for a residence and reasonable time off to arrange for the moving of household goods.

B.  Temporary Vacancies

 1. A temporary vacancy will be posted for bid for not less than forty-eight (48) hours at the domicile(s) designated by the Company, and if not bid may be assigned to the most junior Flight Attendant available.  A Flight Attendant awarded or assigned a temporary vacancy will bid in the monthly bid schedule at the temporary domicile utilizing her seniority number.

 2. A temporary assignment will be awarded and assigned for no longer than one month.

 3. Lodging will be provided as necessary for the entire month at the temporary domicile.

 4. The Company will provide transportation in accordance with standard policies for the positioning of crews in order to begin and end the temporary assignment.  If a Flight Attendant requests, the Company will pay for the movement of a vehicle from her domicile at the applicable rates as outlined in this Agreement.  Provisions for movement will be made at the start of the temporary assignment and at its conclusion.

 5. For the purposes of the temporary assignment, per diem will be computed and paid as if the Flight Attendant were based at that domicile.

C.  Establishment of New Domiciles and/or Closing of Existing Domiciles

 1. The Company shall advise the MEC President and the Flight Attendants of any anticipated additions or closings of a domicile as early as possible and in accordance with applicable federal and state law.

 2. In the event that a domicile is closed, the Flight Attendants at the domicile involved may exercise her options as outlined in Section 19 of this Agreement.

 3. In the event that a domicile is opened, the Flight Attendants will be required to complete a new permanent bid form within ten (10) days of the announcement of the opening.  Flight attendants may update this form in accordance with the provisions of this Section prior to the initial awarding of vacancies.

D. New Hire Domicile Assignment

 In the event the initial assignment of a new hire Flight Attendant requires a change of residence by the Flight Attendant, she shall not be requested nor required to perform any duties for five (5) days immediately prior to her assigned report date.