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Tentative Agreement Reached at Altura
On July 28, 2006, the Union and Company reached a tentative agreement for a new 3-year collective bargaining agreement. A brief overview is as follows:
1. 3% pay increases in each year of the agreement;
2. Medical caps will be 6% (2007), 6% (2008), and 8% (2009);
3. Avaya Training will be offered to the highest senior technician in each seniority area or industry equivalent certification training.
(a) If highest tech is already certified then the company will follow seniority;
(b) If site dedicated without Avaya product, the next senior tech will be trained; and
(c) If site dedicated contract is lost, and the tech was skipped, then that tech will be the next individual to be offered certification training.
4. A cap was put on Temporary Assignments (120 days is the maximum length of time, unless mutually agreed with the tech and manager);
5. Dinner expense increased by $2.00;
6. Negotiated a Fleet Safety Policy and a Drug Policy;
7. Changed Sick Time Allowance language (members will carry over time not used to the next year, and a total of 80 hours can be saved);
8. Vacation language has changed with regards to a technician who has 20 years of service effective 7/31/ 06; that technician will retain his/her 5 weeks of vacation. A technician with less than 20 years of service, as of 7/31/06, will be capped at 4 weeks of vacation time;
9. Seniority areas increased from 18 to 22 areas. The areas are Sacramento, Kansas City, Kyle, and Indianapolis;
10. There were other improvements in contract language throughout the contract.
The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by members of the bargaining unit. More details will follow in future news updates for members employed at Altura.