Avaya continues the transfer of Australian R&D jobs to India

David Heath
Friday, 05 February 2010 16:35

IT People - Enterprise

Nearly two dozen specialist researchers have been sacked as part of communications giant Avaya's radical restructuring of its Australian R&D operation, according to company insiders.

Reports earlier this week of Avaya's intention to close (or substantially reduce) their Research and Development labs presence in Australia have continued to be met with stonewalling and denial by Avaya's representatives.

With redundancy packages still pending, affected staff-members have been extremely reluctant to offer specifics in the fear that their entitlements will be affected.

However, in conversations with a number of affected people, the following information may be offered.

* Almost two dozen people appear to have been presented with what are essentially compulsory redundancies last Monday.  There are some conflicting reports, but it would appear that the remainder of the team - those specifically required for an ongoing project - will remain until the end of March.  Their future after that time is unknown.

* In previous years, whole teams have been closed down and their jobs transferred to India (somewhat ineffectively judging by the quality of the work, according to one source).

* For at least the past three years, AusLabs (the generic name within Avaya for the various R&D groups) has been in the process of transitioning projects to India.

* Current Project Management Plans appear to include sections that explicit describe the process of Knowledge Transfer to teams in India.