May 23, 2006

We met with the company this morning in formal session. The company responded to two data requests. The company then passed counters on Life Insurance, the Avaya Savings Plan, Academic Awards, and the Avaya Award. That was all they had.

The Unions passed a data request on loss of represented jobs in their Basking Ridge, NJ location and where the work is today. We passed a counter proposal to the company plan on reimbursement accounts. The Unions then passed data requests on the following issues: the “On Process” work, missing healthcare data, Avaya maintenance contracts, Avaya Staging locations across the country, and one on the “PD” awards. We then recessed to meet in Sub Committee in the afternoon.
 
The Sub-Committee met at 2:30pm. The company responded to the Unions proposals on job security and certification with little or no movement from their previous position. They only proposed to protect an “elite” few. The Union compared this to the existing 3% retention language that only protects who managers want regardless of skill or seniority. Based on this response and the lack of any movement by the company we recessed the meeting. The Care Center subcommittee also met with the same lack of success.  It appears the company does not want to seriously bargain. They only want to address their issues and leave the Union with nothing. It is up to you to show them what value you are to the business.
 
Any work performed should be done with full compliance with Avaya’s procedures and guidelines. No one should be working overtime.
 
The clock is ticking and apparently Avaya wants it to strike!
 
Four more days!!!!
 
In Unity,
 
CWA-Avaya Bargaining Team