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Avaya Workers in Florida Ratify First Contract
With a 95-percent "yes" vote, telephone sales and administrative workers at an Avaya facility in Brandon, Fla., have ratified an agreement that will place them under CWA's main Avaya contract. The contract caps a major organizing victory for the 143 workers and CWA Local 3108.
"Initially, there was some resistance to rolling them into the national contract," said Ralph Maly, CWA vice president for Telecommunications. "But the persistence of our national, local and unit bargaining representatives paid big dividends for these workers."
Chaired by CWA Representative Gerald Souder, the committee also included Local 3108 President Pamela Lawson and Bill McGrouty, an Avaya worker and member of the unit.
Bargained as an amendment to the existing Avaya contract, Souder said, the agreement creates three new job titles and eliminates a two-tier wage compensation schedule for tele-sales workers and other wage disparities.
Customer account representatives, administrative clerks and telephone sales representatives will immediately be placed in a wage progression schedule, with no loss in pay, at the step nearest their current wage. Progression increases will take effect every six months.
Telephone sales representatives who formerly relied on a sales incentive plan for up to 40 percent of their income will receive an immediate $5.42 increase in their hourly base wage, with incentives reduced to 10 percent.
All employees will receive an "Avaya Award" bonus guaranteed to be a minimum of $570 annually, paid absences based on the national contract rather than at management's discretion, up to 26 weeks' termination pay depending upon seniority, and the benefits of a grievance and arbitration procedure.
Once the new national contract is bargained next year, the workers will be eligible for the company-paid medical benefits that other Avaya workers receive.
"Initially, there was some resistance to rolling them into the national contract," said Ralph Maly, CWA vice president for Telecommunications. "But the persistence of our national, local and unit bargaining representatives paid big dividends for these workers."
Chaired by CWA Representative Gerald Souder, the committee also included Local 3108 President Pamela Lawson and Bill McGrouty, an Avaya worker and member of the unit.
Bargained as an amendment to the existing Avaya contract, Souder said, the agreement creates three new job titles and eliminates a two-tier wage compensation schedule for tele-sales workers and other wage disparities.
Customer account representatives, administrative clerks and telephone sales representatives will immediately be placed in a wage progression schedule, with no loss in pay, at the step nearest their current wage. Progression increases will take effect every six months.
Telephone sales representatives who formerly relied on a sales incentive plan for up to 40 percent of their income will receive an immediate $5.42 increase in their hourly base wage, with incentives reduced to 10 percent.
All employees will receive an "Avaya Award" bonus guaranteed to be a minimum of $570 annually, paid absences based on the national contract rather than at management's discretion, up to 26 weeks' termination pay depending upon seniority, and the benefits of a grievance and arbitration procedure.
Once the new national contract is bargained next year, the workers will be eligible for the company-paid medical benefits that other Avaya workers receive.