Alliance@IBM CWA Local 1701 to Join in Global Day of Action
Workers Worldwide to Protest IBM Job Cuts

Endicott, N.Y. -- On Monday, 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 of IBM’s plan to slash 10,000 to 13,000 jobs.

Around the globe, unions and employee groups are planning individual actions and will coordinate them together, and will issue a joint statement on May 23 condemning IBM’s action.

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 the United States, Alliance@IBM members and co-workers will join in the following activities on May 23.

• Wearing black and blue to signify the pain caused by job cuts.
• Taking a 10 minute “silent” break at 1 pm EDT (Noon Central, 11 am Mountain and 10 am Pacific).
• Retirees will call IBM chief executive officer Sam Palmisano and ask for support for employees and retiree concerns.
• Spouses of terminated employees will e-mail or write to Palmisano detailing the effect that the job loss has had on their family.

“Clearly this is an historic moment where we can all band together to send a strong message to corporate headquarters” said Conrad.

###