Avaya Members Mobilize for Jobs in Tough Bargaining

CWA members rallied, leafleted and held a wave of mobilization actions at Avaya locations to mark the start of bargaining, with more activities underway as CWA fights to keep quality jobs and for a fair contract, reported CWA Vice President Ralph Maly, communications and technologies. CWA represents about 2,900 Avaya workers nationwide.

In Oklahoma City, members of Local 6016 were joined by Cingular Wireless members in an informational picket, and in the Denver area, members of Local 7777 held a week's worth of activities, including a rally, car caravan and a "Walk for Jobs" procession.

In Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Ohio and California, members are wearing red, leafleting, holding coordinated actions like waving mini picket signs and using clickers. T-shirts with the "It's About Jobs" message are everywhere, mobilizers reported.

The bargaining team reported that negotiations are tough and they challenged Avaya on its report that the pension plan covering represented employees — funded at 108 percent of liabilities in 2003 — now is at 83.6 percent, representing a $114 million drop in pension fund assets from January 2004 to January 2006.

Management also has made extreme demands for increased health care costs for both retirees and active members. "This from a company that still pays its executives millions of dollars a year to basically destroy the business," the bargaining team said.

At the bargaining table, Maly reiterated CWA's main goal "to protect our member's jobs today and in the future. Without it, there will be no agreement," he said.