It is ironic that a company that advertises itself as an information services
company and wants to build a smarter planet refuses to divulge crucial information
and wants the planet kept in the dark.
But that is the case with IBM.
Take job cuts. Last year IBM cut an estimated 10,400 jobs.
This information came from Resource Action documents sent to the Alliance.
The true number, which is probably higher, is only known to corporate executives.
On March 1st another 2900 jobs were cut. Probably higher.
Once again only IBM knows the true number and appears to be violating the
intent of the WARN Act.
The jobs were cut all across the United States and some in Canada. What locations
and communities had job cuts?
Nobody knows because IBM no longer gives out that information.
Now IBM has decided that it will no longer inform employees, the government,
communities, the media,
or stockholders how many employees work at IBM in the United States.
From now on only the global headcount number will be reported.
It is clear why IBM is doing this.
The US employee population is shrinking due to off shoring.
IBM is also displacing US workers with foreign workers (at lower pay) brought
in to work on US client accounts.
Meanwhile headcount in India and other countries is increasing.
In fact, IBM India had an employee population of 94,000 in 2008.
At the end of 2009 IBM USA had an employee population of 105,000, down 30,000
in just a few years.
But with IBM no longer giving out headcount by country we will not know
when IBM USA goes below IBM India in headcount. Is this important?
Yes, because IBM has its hands out for economic stimulus money and tax breaks
for so called job creation.
US employee numbers need to be verified.
It is important because IBM, as an incorporated American business has an obligation
to inform ALL stakeholders if employment in the US is in decline.
For the past few years we have heard rumors that IBM wants to get the IBM
US employee number down to 70,000.
IBM’s latest action seems geared to hiding its continued destruction
of the IBM US workforce.
Once again we call on congress to stop fiddling while IBMers burn.
We urge our political leaders around the country to take their heads out of
the sand and wake up to the fact
that the US and working families can’t have an economic recovery when
companies like IBM turn their back on the US;
but hold their hand out for tax breaks and stimulus money.
We urge our members, IBM employees, and citizens to call their political representatives.
Tell them IBM must divulge all employment and job cut numbers .
That IBM must divulge how many IBM workers have and are losing their jobs
as work is shifted offshore.
That IBM must divulge how many foreign workers have been brought into the
US to work on client accounts
and the number of displaced IBM US employees.
That IBM must divulge how many foreign workers are employed on taxpayer funded
government contracts.
The well being of the country is at stake.