Avis Contract Ready to Expire

Avis Members Call For Wage Improvements

No Dates Yet For Contract Negotiations

The results of the Avis Rent A Car contract survey have been tabulated and “Wage Increases” was the number one priority chosen by the membership by a wide margin.
It is clear that wages at Avis have not kept up with the real life expenses our members and their families confront. A few comments cited the need for higher pay for more skilled technicians, and another said: “No Lump Sums Given for Raise!”

The second priority chosen by the members was “employee health insurance costs”. Respondents commented not only on the high contributions, deductibles and co-pays, but also on the limited coverage in the current Aetna plan.

Seniority issues ranked third, reflecting concerns over the current system of “classification seniority”.

Tied for fourth were retirement benefits and job security. Bus drivers in particular raised the question of what would happen to their jobs given the consolidation plans of MassPort.

Sixth, but not too far behind, was the call for more time off.

While “Job Rates/Classifications” didn’t crack the top vote getters, there were numerous comments about having to work outside of job classifications, as well as complaints about the excessive snow removal work required this year.

The Negotiating Committee, which will be meeting again soon, will do a thorough review of the survey results and factor them, as well as members’ comments, into the Union’s positions for negotiations.

However, as of press time, there is still no date set for the start of negotiations with the Company, despite the quickly approaching expiration date of March 31 and numerous union requests to begin. It is clear there will need to be a Contract extension put in place, as has been done in many past Avis Negotiations with IUE-CWA Local 298.