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Workers Mount Global Protest Over IBM Job Cuts
On May 23, the Alliance@IBM, CWA Local 1701, will join with unions, work councils and IBM employees worldwide in a show of solidarity to protest IBM's plan to slash 10,000 to 13,000 jobs.
Around the globe, unions and employee groups are planning individual and coordinated work actions to focus public attention on the company's shortsighted policies.
The groups are issuing a joint statement that condemns IBM's actions as the wrong direction for employees, the company and its customers.
Lee Conrad, national coordinator of Alliance@IBM, said, "There is widespread concern and anger over the announced job cuts and restructuring. Many employees believe that the job cuts are being used to appease Wall Street and boost the company's stock price, at the expense of workers, our families and our company. Employees also are asking how IBM can fire 13,000 employees while simultaneously buying back $5 billion in stock," he said.
In some locations in Europe, workers are planning short, solidarity strikes. In the United States, Alliance@IBM members and co-workers will join in these and other activities:
** Wearing black and blue to signify the pain caused by job cuts.
** Taking a 10-minute "silent" break at locations across the country, beginning at 1 pm EDT.
** Calls from retired workers to IBM chief executive officer Sam Palmisano asking for support for employee and retiree concerns.
** E-mail and other communications to Palmisano from the spouses of terminated employees detailing the effect that the job loss has had on their family.
Around the globe, unions and employee groups are planning individual and coordinated work actions to focus public attention on the company's shortsighted policies.
The groups are issuing a joint statement that condemns IBM's actions as the wrong direction for employees, the company and its customers.
Lee Conrad, national coordinator of Alliance@IBM, said, "There is widespread concern and anger over the announced job cuts and restructuring. Many employees believe that the job cuts are being used to appease Wall Street and boost the company's stock price, at the expense of workers, our families and our company. Employees also are asking how IBM can fire 13,000 employees while simultaneously buying back $5 billion in stock," he said.
In some locations in Europe, workers are planning short, solidarity strikes. In the United States, Alliance@IBM members and co-workers will join in these and other activities:
** Wearing black and blue to signify the pain caused by job cuts.
** Taking a 10-minute "silent" break at locations across the country, beginning at 1 pm EDT.
** Calls from retired workers to IBM chief executive officer Sam Palmisano asking for support for employee and retiree concerns.
** E-mail and other communications to Palmisano from the spouses of terminated employees detailing the effect that the job loss has had on their family.