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2/3/2009
Alliance@IBM is now
on 
Send us a tweet and send one to your co-workers.
Let's keep the focus on the rumor of job cuts in the USA and the World; and
other subjects, pertinent to IBM workers.
09/03/09:
Alliance needs contact with ex-IBM employees who
were RA'd while h1b visa worker remained.
Please contact Lee Conrad ASAP at ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
-Alliance-
12/07/12: Please click the link here and
sign the petition. This is on the front page of our web site, too.
http://www.change.org/petitions/international-business-machines-ibm-usa-ibm-must-reverse-the-decision-changing-the-ibm-match-401-k-contribution
-Alliance-
Comment 12/31/12:
benthere: I agree wholeheartedly! Why we can't get
at least 1000 signatures for the petition before 1/1/2013 does bother me. IBMers
where is your soul? Where is your conviction? I hope everyone has a better New
Year 2013. But with IBM I just don't know. -sign_sign-
Comment 12/31/12:
Well another year without representation in the workplace at
IBM America draws to a close. This year we lost matching contributions on a
regular basis and even more self respect. We gained nothing. Another year older
and deeper in debt like the old song says. I can understand the first few years
of take aways, 1999 to 2002 or so not taking action because there was always
the hope that IBM would return to its roots and start treating its employees
with respect again. Come on people. Its now 10 years past the time we could
delude ourselves into inactivity. The only thing we have to look forward to
in 2013 is massive ammounts of stress as we are overworked, underpaid, cheated
out of our pensions and told we are worthless. Haven't you had enough?
-Exodus2007 -
Comment 12/31/12:
Just wanted to make everyone aware that IBM HR is now hiring
people with Military Counterintelligence backgrounds to wage an online propaganda
war in the Social Media space:
Don't be fooled by her title; she reports to Randy. Here are some
excerpts from her comments in the IBMers Group discussion area on LinkedIn,
regarding the recent 401(k) matching ripoff: (I respectfully disagree.) And,
"If you disagree or are upset about corp decisions - than (sic) my
recommendation frankly would be to leave - there are more than 10 highly qualified
folks lined up to take your place."
Curiously, this lady admonishes someone in one of her later posts for being
disrespectful to her, while at the same time she is making statements such as
those above, which clearly indicate she has no respect for her fellow IBM employees.
BTW, if you don't have a LinkedIn account, I strongly encourage you to sign
up for one and post your resume. After you join the Alliance, of course! Basic
LinkedIn accounts are free and they give you an important resource to enhance/build
your professional network. -Alliance member-
Comment 12/31/12:
A little more then 900 signatures on the petition. Where are
the rest of the people as it will be a month this week since the announcement.
Also is the Alliance waiting for 15,000 signatures before it sends the petition
to IBM or are they being sent one by one. Lets go people this is not a strong
showing. -benthere-
Alliance reply: We will send the petition to IBM
when we have a sufficient amount of signers.
We certainly are not there yet.
Comment 12/30/12:
This is a bit off topic, but I hope you put this on your board:
NLRB overturns union-busting policy
http://www.peoplesworld.org/nlrb-overturns-union-busting-policy/
-NLRB_News-
Comment 12/29/12:
To Anonymous commenting on situation in Dubuque..you must be
a greenie in IBM and really don't know how the whole PBC/layoff system works
based on your comment. -longtimebeemer-
Comment 12/29/12:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1085441-is-ibm-in-trouble
Is IBM In Trouble? For several years now, IBM has been plowing
shareholder capital into buying back shares. IBM has bought 800 million shares
on the open market since 2004, retiring 500 million (most of the difference
went to management). It's an aggressive buyback program, and it works wonders
for earnings per share as long as you have a healthy, vibrant operating model.
Ah, but here's the rub: IBM does not have a healthy, vibrant operating model.
-anonymous-
Comment 12/29/12:
"there are people in Dubuque who have received two
3's in a row and still have their jobs." Well they either are paid
around $20K or are so gullible with their PBC talk with their jerk manager to
believe they will not be in the next RA. Or it shows just how desperate IBM
is to staff a GDF in Dubuque based on how badly they treat the troops, er resources.
Is it possible if IBM pulls out of Dubuque they have to pay Iowa and Dubuque
economic penalty $ that is more than what they pay ALL the resources in Dubuque?
-anonymous3-
Comment 12/28/12:
IF IBM sells the pension assets to an insurance company PBGC
protections from what I understand no longer apply. It then defaults to individual
State pension protections with limits which varies by state. Ask a Verizon retiree.
They just found out they could get screwed because of it. -anonymous-
Comment 12/28/12:
For those of you who are afraid to challenge your rating, as
an fyi - last year I got a 3 rating, I did not accept the rating and had it
escalated to 2nd line / HR, my manager was instructed by HR to change the rating,
however, must add that it was a very stressful time having to document / meet
with 2nd line and HR rep.. My 2nd Line mgr was an @$$ but my HR rep was very
understanding. I work 60 hours weeks and deserve allot more than a 3 rating,
if they think they will try that again this year I will challenge it again just
to send a message to management that I will not accept their BS.. -Anon_PBC-
Comment 12/28/12:
anonymous-retiree IBM's health as a company has no affect on
your pension (as long as it under the PBGC limits) and does not guide their
reducing employee benefits. The pension fund is in good shape too. They will
sell your pension rights to an insurance company if it saves them money. IBM
is making record profits yet is reducing benefits and employess. IBM management
is making bad business decisions for short term gains. You or I can not change
the path they have taken. I wouldn't be surprised if they eliminate the 401K
match altogether. Employess are treated like garbage. No contact .. No rights.
-samtheman-
Comment 12/28/12:
U.S. charges analyst in IBM insider trading case:
http://news.yahoo.com/u-charges-analyst-ibm-insider-trading-case-211017286--sector.html
-Who told Trent Martin about the Acquisition?-
Comment 12/27/12:
Hey anonymous, there are people in Dubuque who have received
two 3's in a row and still have their jobs. I would change teams if your manager
is giving 3's out. He must either be a huge jerk or you are not doing any work.
You do not have to sign your PBC if you do not agree with his score. Escalate
him/her if you feel the need. I see some really bad techs and most still get
solid 2's which are bad enough. -Anonymous-
Comment 12/26/12:
IBM is getting at your $$$ again. As in 1999 with the cash pension
(I like to call it pittance) heist they are doing something similar with the
401(k)+ plan which they will make the IBM 401(k) MINUS (-) plan. If history
teaches you anything, if you don't learn and act from what has happened in the
past it will bound to happen in one form or another again. PLEASE sign the petition
and join the Alliance (if you can't afford $10 a month join as an associate
member for $5 a month)) as your 2013 New Year's resolution! -again_n_again-
Comment 12/26/12:
Arne Alsin sums it up pretty well in this article. IBM Management
isn't just sticking it to Employees; Management is gouging IBM Customers as
well ... And it's going to get ugly before it's over. http://seekingalpha.com/article/1085441-is-ibm-in-trouble
-No Trust in Any Relationships-
Comment 12/26/12:
Was not a Merry Christmas when you have to work on it to try
to avoid a PBC 3 and a definite RA. Will New Year 2013 be much different?
-anonymous-
Comment 12/25/12:
Judge Takes Aim at Another S.E.C. Settlement:
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/12/24/judge-takes-aim-at-another-s-e-c-settlement/
-Anonymous-
Comment 12/25/12:
On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen, on Comet on Cupid
on Donder and Blitzen. Now all pull together and dash away all! Or your next
job will be as temp help in the mall. -Exodus2007-
Comment 12/24/12:
Samtheman - You are missing the point. I am not here trying
to provide investment advice nor solicit it. I've done quite well in that area
... The whole point is to get folks to see they have more invested on how IBM
runs it's business and treats employees than they think they do. You don't have
to be an employee to benefit from signing the petition. This is similar to shareholder
proposals that I have voted for in the past. My wife and I also write letters
to her pension plan telling them how we would like to see them vote. The only
way to get things to change is to participate and you will never know if you
are successful until you try. -anonymous-retiree-
Comment 12/24/12:
What? We still can't get over 1000 signers to the 401(k) petition?
Your giving Randy Mac a Ho-Ho-Ha Christmas present. Bah humbug to the IBMers
and others still acting like sheep in not signing or for those IBMers still
not joining the Alliance. You can bet 2013 will be worse for many of you. If
you think this is a threat by me then you don't know or want to listen to reality.
-sign_sign-
Comment 12/23/12:
Upset judge refuses to 'rubber stamp' IBM bribery settlement:
http://wraltechwire.com/judge-refuses-to-rubber-stamp-ibm-foreign-bribery-settlement/11905337/
"[U.S. District Judge Richard Leon], who spoke loudly and angrily,
asked why the [SEC] regulator would agree to limit such requirements for a company
with a history of books-and-records violations. He also threatened to hold [IBM
attorney] Barbur, of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, in contempt for talking
over him." -What, IBM Worry?-
Comment 12/23/12:
For those who are concerned about losing PBGC Insurance if IBM
Management decides to terminate our Pension Plan and purchase Annuities from
an Insurance Company, there are still some guarantees at the state level. New
York State, for example, guarantees insurance benefits up to $500K. See the
fourth question at the first link below, and the second link for a state-by-state
list of Guaranty Associations:
http://www.pbgc.gov/wr/other/pg/standard-terminations-faq-for-workers-and-retirees.html
http://safemoneyplaces.com/guaranty.htm
-Already Screwed Out of Half My Pension by IBM
Management-
Comment 12/22/12:
-benthere- It is my holiday wish! -IBM
UnionYes-
Comment 12/22/12:
"Can't believe my mgr sent out a note today asking
for PBC input by end of day Dec 24." Ever think your manager will
take time off for rest for year and not return to sometime in January 2013 after
the PBCs are finally due. Maybe your manager has to get some psychological help
or the courage to break RA news early in 2013? Less likely is maybe your manager
got their bonus check already and is using it for a lavish vacation *maybe*
a paid ski trip from IBM for a"job well done doing IBM's job". That
all said, try to have a Happy Holiday from IBM is what this action tells you.
-anonymous-
Comment 12/22/12:
-anonymous retiree- Since it appears that you have
a diversified portfolio already you are doing the right thing by selling your
IBM stock (Individual shares). The reason you have these stock funds is to diversify
your holdinds so one stock will not greatly affect your holdings . Also, actively
managed stock funds would hopefully sell IBM stock if they saw it was failing.
I know many people in the 1990's whose only stock holding was IBM and they had
used the stock as collateral for loans. The stock dropped, the loans were called
and people lostg their jobs. Those that are left are being slowly drained by
a thousand little cuts and being asked to do more. -Samtheman-
Comment 12/22/12:
I can see the Personal choice holidays either being reduced
or go bye-bye altogether next. Personal choice holidays is just PTO (Paid Time
Off) and IBM doesn't want to pay for time off if they have their druthers. It
hurts their billed charges to the customer accounts. Besides you can't make
your billable utilization rates if you take all of the personal choice holidays.
So IBM plays off of that against you the resource (your not even an associate
like in WalledMart). If you miss your utilization target, you now get a PBC
3. Not enough outrage over the 401(k) plus changes so IBM will figure little
outrage over this move too. IBM doesn't care about the person anymore (your
a resource) so why have personal choice holidays in the first place? You human
beings (that's what you truly are but not treated as such by IBM) need to take
a unified union stand on what little benefits you have left. -PC'ed-
Comment 12/21/12:
"Second being dependent on a pension the potential
of a weaker IBM make a transfer to a PBGC or to an insurance annuity a possibility".
.. As I said in my post .. If IBM can save a nickel they will
sell your pension to an insurance company. Verizon just did it and then your
pension is no longer insured by the federal gov't (PBGC). -samtheman-
Comment 12/21/12:
401K matching contribution defer payment to 12/15 is just the
beginning. Next target is your vacation benefits. Just like your new 2013 401K
matching contribution, you'll get nothing if you are RAed, terminated, or leave
at your own will. IBM will do this if not before 2015. I can see this in the
planning stage to get HR/Legal seal of approval.
1. IBM will take all vacation off the book. Meaning (supposedly) you have unlimited
vacation, but there is a fine print to consider. When IBM RAs on you, IBM does
not have to pay out $$$ for your hard earned vacation for the time period you
worked. Your vacation may have to be approved by management/a committee on individual
basis, and denied you base on a business needs. You are allows only two consecutive
weeks off after you over come some hard obstacle base on the new vacation guidelines.
2. All personal choice/national holidays will be grouped together as one lum
sum and only can be taken after 12/15. Normally IBM offers 6 Personal Choice
and 6 National Holiday off depend on geographic location.
HR will spin as benefit to allows you to spend more time with family and don't
have to worry about work at the holiday season. -cannedbyblue-
Alliance reply: This is just speculation by you at this time. Will it become
fact? Time will tell.
Comment 12/21/12:
Can't believe my mgr sent out a note today asking for PBC input
by end of day Dec 24, this could not wait until the new year, had to stick it
to his employees by having them deal with this dreadful useless waste of time
tool just before the holidays.. On a side note, I was looking through my Sametime
contacts only to realize more than a third of them no longer works for IBM.
Merry Christmas everyone and All the Best in the New Year -Anon-
Comment 12/21/12:
We still can't get at least 1000 signers of the petition? IBM
is not going to fire you for signing this. Why would you want to be treated
like this if IBM is going to be that cruel? There is no reason other than IBM
greed for making the 401(k) change. By not signing the petition you allow them
to walk all over you and have total disregard for your retirement planning.
-stand_up_for_yer_right-
Comment 12/20/12:
We got 876 signatures on the petition so can we ASSUME that
all of these people will join the Alliance? -benthere-
Comment 12/20/12:
"I'm reasonably certain that IBM offers a similar,
but enhanced, plan for upper earners. Maybe directors and above?"
Yep, it's called the SERP (Supplemental Executive Retention Plan).
It essentially is an entitlement carrot as another retirement benefit for the
IBM upper management. IBM gives the SERP to those executives who have almost
reached retirement eligibility. -anonymous-
Comment 12/20/12:
IBM Canada quietly packaged out a number of GTS 2nd Line manager,
I know of 4, however, they all had around 30 years of service, also, all have
kids in high school / university so you know they did not volunteer. For a better
count I suggest folks check and see if their second line mgr is still around.
-Anon-
Comment 12/20/12:
I just received a $25 Amazon gift card from my boss as a holiday
gift. Oh, that's right, I don't work for IBM anymore. If you're not working
to support the union, it's better on the other side. -Glad-I-Left-
Comment 12/20/12:
To Exodus2007's point: I believe your understanding about the
401K *law* is correct. However, I'm reasonably certain that IBM offers a similar,
but enhanced, plan for upper earners. Maybe directors and above?
To the moderators: Thanks for keeping the Alliance active. It's ok if you don't
post this comment as it's off topic, and I *might* be incorrect. Hope there
aren't any RA's announced right before the New Year, of course.
-Also gone-
Comment 12/19/12:
-samtheman- I am well aware of IBM's revenue and growth
issues. I have been divesting since a year or two before I retired. Even if
I sell all of my directly owned IBM stock I am still exposed as are most other
IBM employees and retirees. Most of us have stock mutual funds of one type or
another in 401K, IRA and taxable accounts. Many investments in these accounts
are index funds and balanced funds that own some IBM stock. You have similar
situation with bond funds that purchase IBM's corporate bonds. This means I
am still a stockholder, although indirectly, that has skin in the game along
with anybody else in the 401K. -anonymous retiree-
Comment 12/19/12:
Well I just sent in my check this morning to Alliance. If everybody
would stop whining and moaning and joinup then maybe there's a chance we'll
all have jobs this time next year. Don't just complain folks, you CAN do something!
-shep-
Comment 12/19/12:
The 401k decision seems to be one made of desperation rather
than of wise corporate cost cutting. When you are hard up for cash, you get
desperate. Ever go through your closet looking in coat pockets for change? In
the couch cushions? IBM investors should be very concerned. I smell the books
cooking. I signed the petition and asked all of my friends to sign.
-CookingForReal-
Comment 12/18/12:
Come on people, sign this petition. Honestly, this is a chance
to stand up for yourself. More signatures are needed to make a statement on
this latest rip-off. -mugged-
Comment 12/18/12:
My understanding of 401K rules are the executives can only invest
in 401K up to the amount the rank and file do. If everyone stops investing in
IBM's plan the executives will not be able to and they will certainly fix the
issue fast. Put the money you would invest into a Roth IRA. Taxes already paid
so less impact when you withdraw it. Use your numbers to win. See how well it
works. Then use your numbers to organize. It will work just as well.
-Exodus2007-
Comment 12/18/12:
R U IBMers that AFRAID and SCARED of losing your job if you
sign a petition??? If so, then just quit and find another job now before you
get swallowed up soon and before 2015. If you don't sign the 401K) petition
it is like saying to management: DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO ME I'M YOUR PUPPET.
-anonymous-
Comment 12/17/12:
to -notsure- It's
not the alliance saying you're an at-will employee, it's pretty much the signed
agreement between you and IBM (yes, you signed a documented stating that you
acknowledged the fact you're an at-will employee (among a bunch of other standard
stuff)). The alliance is just reminding you what you signed up for when you
agreed to work for IBM. -Glad-I-Left-
Comment 12/16/12:
-anonymous retiree-: I left IBM on my own in 2005. From what
I read it looks like IBM is making cuts and not growing the business. I hope
you own other stocks other than IBM. I sold all my stock recently @ $198 as
I see that IBM is playing short term games and the future looks bleak. Also,
nothing will stop IBM if they wish to sell pensions to an insurance company
regardless how well the company is doing. Verizon has just done so on their
non union plans. -samtheman-
Comment 12/16/12:
well, i"m confused... alliance says I'm at at-will employee;
without a contract IBM can fire me for any reason. But then they say "sign
the petition" don't be afraid if IBM knows your name, you're protected...
which is it? -not sure-
Alliance reply: Because it is 2 different things. Signing the petition, joining
the union and other union organizing activities are covered under labor law.
Signing the petition is part of protected concerted activity.
Labor law prohibits management from: Interfering with, restraining or coercing
employees in their rights under Section 7. These rights include freedom of association,
mutual aid or protection, self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor
organizations, to bargain collectively for wages and working conditions through
representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other protected concerted
activities with or without a union. "At Will Employment" relates to
your working relationship at IBM *minus* a union contract.
Comment 12/14/12:
I know this is off topic but.. All IBMers who live around Southbury,CT
whose children might attend the nearby Sandy Hook School: My prayers are with
you. -sby_willie-
Comment 12/14/12:
As a retiree I signed the petition as anything that lowers moral
or makes it less likely to hire competent people has a direct effect on me.
First as a stockholder it affects the long term viability of the company. Second
being dependent on a pension the potential of a weaker IBM make a transfer to
a PBGC or to an insurance annuity a possibility. Neither of these are as secure
for maintaining my current income as the pension plan is. I want to throw out
a contrarian viewpoint about employees being afraid to advocate for a union.
I posit that the early ones might actually be less likely to be RA'ed. If given
the choice of being called on firing a union organizer or "Fred",
my guess is they will go for Fred first. The key for IBM is getting rid of folks
with the least amount of effort. Letting a union organizer go will draw unwanted
attention and take more time and cost. -anonymous
retiree-
Comment 12/14/12:
"Why don't you just hand IBM your wallet."
No need to hand over any wallets, they've already got all the bank account numbers.
And canceling the company match is just one more small step to take.
-Dave-
Comment 12/14/12:
The unemployment rate edged down to 7.7 percent in November.
The number of unemployed persons, at 12.0 million out of 145 - million employed.
Even if you generously say the US IBM employees number @ 90,000, that is only
0.0075 or 0.75% that hardly puts a dent in the overall un-employment for the
USA. The point of all this is that nobody will really notice when IBM slices
and dices your job. You're just a number to IBM and a very small one to the
U.S. Labor Dept. Yep, no-one will really pay that much attention. IT IS UP TO
YOU TO ACT. Don't wait for someone to do it for you (remember the number). You
need to fight for yourself now when you have the chance. Don't sit back and
think the the big blue elephant in the corner of your cubicle will go away.
-Reality-Check-
Comment 12/13/12:
I'll be deferring my 401k contributions to the 4th qtr. and
investing the money elsewhere throughout the year. I think this is a no brainer.
-If I want loyalty I'll get a dog-
Comment 12/13/12:
Certain GBS non-directs groups will be RA'd 1Q13. My small dept
will be gone. Not so subtle hints from my manager. How much money can possible
be saved from firing a dept under 10 people? -anon-
Comment 12/13/12:
Only 600 signers of the petition from the 10's of thousands
affected by this rip off!
Why don't you just hand IBM your wallet. -anonymous -
Comment 12/13/12:
So I joined a call early, and shame on my manager for having
the announcement tone disabled on his conference line. I caught the tail end
of another call of managers. From what I could identify, a lot of first lines
and at least one 2nd line were on the call. From the out of context conversation,
it sounds like a HUGE push to force people to retire will be rolled out in 2013.
There were a lot of people talking about not being ready to retire, but at their
age no place else will hire them. And then somebody else chimed in with "I'm
the oldest one here, I'll be first to go I'm sure". And somebody else
said their department was 95% "retirement age" people and they were
concerned with out it would be phased out. Obviously worried about losing a
majority of their department with nobody to knowledge transfer to. Let me just
say I'm glad to be out of that mess. I feel for everybody left behind. You have
a choice. -evesdropper-
Comment 12/13/12:
One of my relatives, whom I had asked to sign the petition,
sent me this today:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/12/opinion/ghilarducci-ibm-410k/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
So this is continuing to get some notice. Keep up the viewings,
commenting, and requests from your friends, family, and co-workers (past and
present) to sign the petition. I added a somewhat lengthy comment to the CNN
article just now (it's"pending moderation", but should appear soon),
and included a link to the petition (via tinyurl).
-sickofitall-
Comment 12/13/12:
The Federal Reserve says it will keep short term interest rates
low (like about 0%) until unemployment drops below 6.5% or inflation rises to
2.5%. The unemployment rate is forecast to drop to this level by 2015. How is
unemployment gonna get to 6.5% when Roadkill 2015 comes to fruition and tens
of thousands of IBMers hit the unemployment lines? -how can?-
Comment 12/13/12:
I have to be honest. I am one of those 'scared' ones. I have
a family to feed and I NEED this job (as crappy as they may treat me). So I
stay quiet and take my lumps. I know one day I will be RA-ed. But I just can't
take the chance that I will draw attention to myself and get put on the next
RA list. This may sound paranoid, but I know IBM watches and if you draw unnecessary
attention to yourself you will be RA-ed. They just need the slightest reason
to get rid of us. YES, I am SCARED! -scared-
Alliance reply: We have Alliance officers and members who have been very public
in their advocacy for you and other IBM workers for years. They have challenged
IBM at stockholder meetings, they have participated in rallies and picket lines,
they have handed out flyers. And they are still working at IBM.
You don't think they have been scared as well? They too, have families. But
they know this fight needs to be fought. Shed your fear and join us. As a public
member of the Alliance you have labor rights.
Comment 12/12/12:
I took an early retirement this year. Looks like perfect timing.
There's not much left they can take away but whatever there is you can bet it's
in the queue to be put on the chopping block. My dept went from 25 to 2 in 3
years. About half got RA'd, a lot jumped ship and a few of us threw in the towel
and called it quits. I feel sorry for the two that are left. -LeftAlready-
Comment 12/12/12:
-sickofitall- I hear ya and you are absolutely 1000%
correct! As an Alliance member I am proud of your post here ! ALL IBM RETIREES
should sign this petition. Show some solidarity. We are all going to be IBM
retirees (hopefully) some day. I am basically a forced retired IBMer (RAed before
I was 50 years old with over 25 years of service, no FHA). Now am IBM contractor
getting...(fill in the blank). Who is willing to stand with me (us)? If we can
get most if not all retirees to stand with the current employees then 15K signing
the petition should be easy. -Solidarity_Forever-
Comment 12/12/12:
Bernanke is going to do nothing to stimulate the economy since
uemployment rates are forecast to drop to 6.5% by 2015. With about 50K+ USA
IBMers looking for another job? Can you believe unemployment will be at 6.5%
if the 2015 Roadkill is executed? THINK TWICE. -anonymous-
Comment 12/12/12:
To - BenThere - The basis for 'Step 3' is that one employee
will tell 2 employees. If those 2 employees commit to the '3 Step Plan', they
will EACH tell 2 MORE employees about the plan. The number of employees finding
out about the plan grows very quickly from 1 to 2 to 4 to 8 to 16 to 32 to 64
to 128 to 256, etc. It's a minimal effort by each employee to commit to telling
2 employees who don't know about the plan. If the employees make the commitment
the word will spread VERY quickly. (I told an employee about the Alliance last
week and they didn't even know it existed.) The plan is simple but can be very
effective if employees commit to it. If employees work at home they can still
commit to step 2 and 3. Ultimately it all helps unite our workforce. Just think
if there are 100 employees on this website reading this comment, those 100 employees
can each tell 2 employees about the plan tomorrow. We'll have 200 MORE employees
who know about the plan, TOMORROW. Those 200 employees can each tell 2 employees
about the plan the next day. We'll have 400 MORE the NEXT DAY, etc,etc. It can
be VERY effective. Years ago, a brilliant IBM engineer told me that the best
plan is usually simple.
p.s. He left IBM.
-Had It-
Comment 12/12/12:
This is so frustrating. IBM knows the job market sucks. They
know it is going to get worse next year. People like me are stuck for at least
another year without major financial hardship. It sucks to be held over a barrel.
With recent laws passed, unions are going to lose a significant power as well.
It is so frustrating and nerve wracking. The gov't is in bed with companies
like IBM to insure more dependence. I have no delusions that the 2015 bloodbath
is coming. We have been cutting back on personal expenses and socking away as
much cash as we can. We will find a way to absorb the tax hit in 2013. I just
do not know how much more I can take before all is gone. -Frustrated-
Comment 12/12/12:
I signed the petition this morning. Looks like 550 signatures
so far. Good job Alliance. I am impressed with this new action taken by the
Alliance leadership. -Carl-
Comment 12/12/12:
"Had it", I agree - employees are afraid of being
singled out. I have hit up three co-workers who I know are fed up and specifically
not happy about the 401k move. All of them had received the Alliance email,
none of them had signed it. I encouraged them to sign it, and to join the Alliance.
If every member of the Alliance does the same, we'll get some more members.
If everyone who is fed up signs the petition and asks family and friends to
do so, we'll reach the 15,000 goal EASILY (there's 550-something on there right
now, so we're making some progress, let's keep it up!). The one thing I encountered
among them all was apathy (and I have to believe that they are a little worried
they'll prematurely get put on an RA list or have a reduced PBC rating or something
too). What I heard was basically - "it doesn't matter if I sign it or join,
it's not going to make a difference, the execs don't care about us and whether
we're unhappy or not". I provided some arguments against that, most of
which were summarized by the "Alliance reply" below:
Doing nothing is not going to help - how does that make things better? If you
don't speak up, regardless of whether they care or not, they won't even know
how you feel and neither will the press or the public, or the handful of politicians
on our side (I don't know what they're up to these days, but a big thanks should
go to folks like John Hall (NY), Dennis Kucinich, Marcy Kaptur, and Ted Strickland,
who have fought for us in the past). When you don't at least sign a petition,
and get your voice out there somehow, it *looks* like you don't care, like everything
bad IBM has done is just fine and dandy as far as you're concerned. And complaining
to a sympathetic co-worker is preaching to the choir and no one else is going
to hear it or understand how you feel; complaining to your wife or husband -
just as fruitless - you need to get your voice heard. As IBM is a bellweather,
this will spread to other companies, and you'll encounter the same thing everywhere
you go (in a lot of ways, it's already going on - many other companies have
been offshoring and reducing benefits). Even if IBM doesn't rescind its decision,
at least you can feel proud of yourself for speaking up for yourself instead
of doing nothing, and start speaking up for your rights more often. The more
people that sign the petition, comment on articles about this (I like "I
signed it"'s idea as well), the more visibility it gets from the press
and just from the public in general. Read those articles, comment on them, let
people know we're going to stand up for ourselves. Encourage others to do the
same, whether they work for IBM or not. IBM *is* going to fire most of us anyway,
we know that because of the 2015 roadmap and the *clear* trend in U.S. headcount
reduction that's been taking place. So what have we got to lose now?
With regards to the 3-step plan, I work from home, so I can't participate
in Step 1. I definitely vist the Alliance web site frequently. And I have
encouraged others to sign the petition and join the Alliance, so I'm with
you.
And on the topic of viewing and commenting on articles about this, I'm going
to pick one right now from the list Gorya provided and take, what, a minute?,
and add a comment and a link to the petition.
...just posted to the Bloomberg site. -sickofitall
-
Comment 12/12/12:
I wonder how long it will take those greedy elitists in Armonk
to do this to IBM Retires:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-07/verizon-pension-recipients-lose-bid-to-block-plan-transfer.html
They ended the Medicare Part B SHAP reimbursement of $900 on 12/31/1996
and the Life Planning Account of $250 for Retirees on 12/31/2003. Seems only
logical they will divest themselves of the "Prior Pension Plan" also.
-Jsb2b-
Comment 12/12/12:
-Hadit-: GDF workers are brainwashed my management
into thinking that if you even mention the Alliance or are caught at their website
you will get fired. They have no clue and that's why IBM hired them. Dense Dubuquers
no doubt. Here is the skinny to DBQ GDF workers: YOU CAN JOIN THE UNION AND
WONT GET IN TROUBLE FOR DOING SO. Quit being so paranoid about management. It's
not like they really care about you anyway. -hero4hero-
Comment 12/11/12:
There are lots of very good employees in IBM and I know this
because I worked with them. All this PBC 2 and 3 ranking is completely bogus,
years of weeding the onshore talent has left nothing but high performers in
the company. They are paid well because they are good. I was too scared to let
people know I was affiliated with the Alliance, because for sure I knew I would
be targeted for an RA. I understand why membership isn't higher and no one will
voluntarily pass out material on lunch hour in the cafeteria. I personally witnessed
Rochester HR follow Alliance members and collect all the material they were
putting on cafeteria tables during their lunch hour. I know they were being
watched. When I left IBM, I was nervous because it was the only company I had
ever worked for but I totally love my new job and the kicker is, THEY LIKE ME
TOO. I was a little stunned someone actually thought I was a GOOD employee.
I hadn't felt that in years. Now I'm watching more takeaways unfold AGAIN and
every day I say to myself how thankful I am to now be in a good place and not
a bad place. It's terrible to see the company being eaten up by executives and
Wall Street. I believe IBM will become a smaller player with mediocre products.
That is, unless the remaining onshore workforce can somehow organize quickly.
They can either leave or organize, but it is hard to see the status quo being
maintained. Good luck!
PS - I signed the petition. -JS-
Comment 12/11/12:
The next step may be to tie 401K matching contribution to PBC
rating. My fear is that the company will continue to RA hardworking people who
keep the business running and default into bankruptcy. We need to join the union
and support efforts to hold this company together, or we all lose. -mugged-
Comment 12/11/12:
There are 420,000 Employees versus 1 Randy and his 1 boss. Surely
something can be done. -Joe Punchclock-
Comment 12/11/12:
To -3 step- , somehow I don't see your plan as being
too effective. I would suggest having your male co-workers over to your house
for a football party and a discussion on IBM and a union. For the woman have
a similar party and discussion. Also get some round tables at lunch and talk
union. Holiday season is here so have some parties and discuss Alliance. Use
social media and contact your IBM friends and talk joining. I don't think you
are aggressive enough. I always would see people walking together at lunch and
unless you have a union sign no one knows what you're talking about.
-benthere-
Comment 12/11/12:
Here is a great example of the unfounded optimism of IBM non-management
employees who have not joined this union. http://imgur.com/4W710
and
http://i.imgur.com/fk5P7.jpg
-Does not matter-
Comment 12/11/12:
Greedy IBM does not care about it's employees; the 401k benefit
cuts is the last straw for many of us. We don't get benefits anymore working
here we are just being used. shameful big blue -shamefulbigblue-
Comment 12/11/12:
I'm surprised Randy didn't eliminate the match altogether. Better
hit on this one with the press as hard as you can. -sam the man-
Alliance reply: There is nothing to stop them if IBM employees remain quiet.
Comment 12/11/12:
We should have more people signing this petition. What is the
problem? -Bill-
Alliance reply: A big problem is that IBM workers are letting their fear paralyze
them. It is way past time to get beyond this. Do workers think that if they
do nothing the "mugging" will stop? Doing nothing just makes management
stronger and invites more take aways. Do you think if you remain silent and
let others sign you will be spared being let go in an RA? Dream on. IBM management
does not respect you unless you fight for respect!
Comment 12/11/12:
Another Cringely article
http://www.cringely.com/2012/12/05/more-stupid-ibm-tricks-put-customer-data-at-risk/
-concerned-
Comment 12/10/12:
Here's a 3 step plan that might help to unite our workforce.
Feedback is appreciated.
Let's face it, if 10 employees were standing in front of the building with
picket signs, many employees wouldn't join them for fear of losing their jobs.
We have not been able to unite our workforce because employees are afraid
of being singled out. We need to unite our workforce in a way that employees
feel SAFE or it will never happen. Every employee that I've talked with over
the last week is totally fed up with the IBM executives who are making the
decisions that are effecting our lives. The 401K change was the last straw.
So NOW is the time to unite, with purpose, and without fear. Once we unite
our workforce the ALLIANCE organization can help us with the rest. Let's revisit
the 'lunch time walk around' and call it the '3 Step Plan'.
3 STEP PLAN
If you are unhappy with the recent 401K change we ask that you commit to
the following:
Step 1: WALK AROUND YOUR BUILDING AT YOUR LUNCH TIME EVERY DAY. No picket
signs, no special clothing, no chanting; JUST WALK. You can walk by yourself
or with some coworkers. You can walk whenever your lunch time is scheduled.
The purpose of this walk is to visually show your coworkers that you are unhappy
with the 401K change. It's NOT a message to management, it's a STRONG VISUAL
message to your coworkers that they are not alone. There should be no fear
of doing this activity, because it is only a lunch time walk. We ask that
you commit to this walk EVERY day you are working from an IBM site. (Snow,
sleet, and rain too!)
Step 2: VISIT THE IBM ALLIANCE WEB SITE EITHER DAILY OR WEEKLY. DO NOT do
this on IBM time, on IBM premises, on IBM owned computers, or on the IBM network.
Do this on your own time, in your own home, on your own computer, and on your
own network connection. If you feel compelled to join the Alliance, please
do. If you are not ready to join, it's ok, but commit to VISIT the web site
daily or weekly.
Step 3: TELL TWO COWORKERS YOU TRUST ABOUT THE '3 STEP PLAN' AND ASK THEM
TO COMMIT TO THE PLAN IF THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE 401K CHANGE. If they already
know about the plan, then it doesn't count! You need to tell two coworkers,
who have never heard of the '3 Step Plan'. You can tell as many as you want
but commit to a minimum of two. Feedback is appreciated.
-Had it-
Comment 12/10/12:
Let's get going! Let's get the petition signed. I took a look
today and there were 425 signatures. It looks like the Alliance is asking for
15,000. If you haven't signed it yet, do it. If you haven't joined the Alliance
yet, do it. The IBM executives must be shown that IBMers will NOT accept this
'robbery' again; we will not accept another retirement fund reduction; we will
not accept another method that will be used to deny IBMers something they were
promised by IBM. Sign the petition! Join the Alliance. Remember the 1999 Pension
heist? Fight back now like IBMers did then! Let's do this. Get busy fighting
for your job, or get busy losing your job. Your choice. -Soldin2002-
Comment 12/10/12:
Good point, Fed Up. I stopped donating via the ECCC a couple
years ago for that exact reason - the things these executives and this company
have been doing to their employees (and by extension to customers) are horrible.
They're dang sure not taking credit for my benevolence.
By the way, I hit up several co-workers today to try and convince them to sign
the petition and join the Alliance. I'm also putting together a list of email
addresses from former co-workers who have left (actually, most of them were
RA'd) and I'm going to ask them to sign the petition too. C'mon folks - if *I*
can do this, *you* can do this. -sickofitall-
Comment 12/10/12:
It might be helpful for someone to visit each of the sites which
has an article and add a comment which contains the petition link. Revisiting
and re-adding the link might help to keep it visible, too. -I signed
it-
Comment 12/10/12:
Send a message to IBM, withdraw your 2013 ECCC pledge and make
your contribution directly to charity. IBM should not get credit for your good
deeds. Send a note to: Charity Payroll Services/Endicott/IBM@IBMUS
-Fed Up-
Comment 12/09/12:
Well, I've been saving my "walking money" since being
told I was not getting my raise this summer. I told my mgmt I would take a March
RA. If I don't get it, I think my 2 weeks will be given March 15 (so I get Variable
pay if they actually pay it). I am taking my 5 PC holidays and my 5 earned vacation
days and walking out the door. Feel free to join me for coffee virtually!
- Walking Papers -
Comment 12/09/12:
I recently joined. I have also sent the link to sign the petition
to other folks and asked them to sign and join. We have to do something about
this. We are likely to get canned by 2015 anyway (maybe 2013 by what just happened).
Might as well do down fighting. P.S. I am also starting to work on my own exit
to another company. The execs should at least be honest with the industry and
rename itself to Walmart IT. -JJ-
Comment 12/09/12:
Building a smarter planet means first doing the right thing
IBM! -401_ko'ed-
Comment 12/09/12:
Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war! If not now when? If
not this issue what issue? Live better. Work union! -Exodus2007-
Comment 12/09/12:
I was gone in 08 but employed at IBM for more than 2 decades.
Ever since Gerstner, any changes that IBM made to any benefits always were to
benefit the company at the expence of the employee. This 401K change is no different.
-Ben Dover-
Comment 12/08/12:
Marketplace money even did a segment on this several days ago
- this is getting visibility - Keep up the pressure! http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/ibm-remakes-its-match
-Still mad about this-
Comment 12/08/12:
I joined the Alliance this week and will actively encourage
my coworkers to do so. The 401K rip-off was the last straw for me; totally disgusting.
Greedy executives making tens of millions of dollars by ripping off the employees.
They are so far removed from us that they don't even treat us like human beings
any more. We are in an abusive environment and our morale is at an all time
low, but only WE can change it. They need to be reminded of what made IBM great;
respect for the individual. WE need to remind them, they are NOTHING without
the workforce; ZERO! Everyone, please pass the word around at work this week
to visit the Alliance page, just visit once a day or once a week.
For the Alliance folks, PLEASE post the number of members on the top of the
pages most visited on your website. If the numbers start to grow, more will
join the Alliance. If you also post the number of hits to the page, employees
will realize that many more are visiting the Alliance site but may be afraid
to join. IBM was one of the best companies to work for in the USA. It has only
fallen into the wrong hands. We need to act now. We need to start a movement.
(a group of people working together to advance their shared political, social,
or artistic ideas : the labor movement.)
Slowly ask your coworkers who oppose the 401K change to join you for a walk
around your building at your lunch time (noon-ish), EVERY day, starting today.
NO picket signs or anything like that, ONLY going for a leisurely walk at lunch.
Each day the word will spread, the numbers will grow, and employees will SEE
that we are uniting and THEY WILL JOIN the Alliance. Is anyone interested in
getting some fresh air?
Alliance, is this something we can do?
If that's not a good idea then let's brainstorm to get this rolling.
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE ARE FALLING! -Had
it-
Alliance reply: By all means, do the walk around. Another suggestion, wear
black and blue to signify you are being "mugged" by IBM.
Keep sending ideas in on what you all want to do to mobilize your co-workers
in fighting this 401(k) change.
By the way, 12 new members, 4 new associate members, and 4 subscribers/supporters
joined since last Thursday.
We need more! Our total of all 3 catagories is only 5000. Put your fear behind
you and join us. Membership is confidential. IBM won't know unless you want
them to.
We have had 14,500 unique visitors to the Alliance web site so far this month.
We know our eblasts are not reaching every employee. If any one has email
lists of their co-workers please send to ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
Sign the petition! If not enough sign, IBM wins!
Comment 12/08/12:
The good news is that the 401(k) story is helping to publicize
Alliance. Samples:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-07/ibm-draws-flak-for-change-to-401-k-plan.html
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012312070021
http://www.lohud.com/article/20121208/BUSINESS/121208001/IBM-cuts-401-k-contribution-schedule-yearly
http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1517011
http://blog.hreonline.com/2012/12/07/will-ibms-401k-change-spur-others-to-follow
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/business/ibm-changes-401k-matches-workers-fume
Let's all sign the petition! -Gorya-
Comment 12/08/12:
Last night I signed the petition. Then, I drafted and sent a
detailed email to family and friends about this (and IBM / corporate America's
history and plans), and asked them to sign the petition and to forward the mail
on to everyone else they thought would stand with us. I'm not the type to do
things like that, at least the email asking for help and asking people to forward
it, but when is this garbage going to end? It's not, not until IBM and every
other cra**y company out there gets the message that we're not going to put
up with it anymore, and that's going to take more than just my voice and my
signature. Take the *30 seconds* to sign the petition, then then another two
minutes out of your life to get the word out. -sickofitall-
Comment 12/08/12:
Those of you who are looking to leave IBM now due to the 401(k)
change can you first join the Alliance if you are not already a member? At least
as an associate member. It will help the cause for those that have to, at this
point, stay at IBM for whatever reason. -solidarity_step-
Comment 12/08/12:
IBM CEO and upper level management have contracts. After this
information about the 401K, we as workers even more need a union contract. Join
the union. -ANA-
Comment 12/08/12:
The last time I heard this much disgruntled chatter was when they
dumped the pension plan. Wow... A new low for IBM. Maybe if they wouldn't be
so obsessed with trying to trick Wall Street into thinking they are a growth
company (and come on, nobody is fooled), they could invest in the employees
and be a solid company that delivers quality products. The good news, I have
multiple offers sitting in my inbox on LinkedIn. It is just a matter of time
before I jump ship to someone that respects me and my peers. Such a sad state
of affairs that IBM has become under poor leadership. Project after project,
I see executives making poor decisions while at the same time I see some of
the smartest engineers doing their bidding. Fortunately, the Googles, Amazons,
etc know the talent that IBM has and is willing to pay for it. Oh well IBM,
good luck with your third world "talent." -Anon-
Comment 12/08/12:
Let's face it. It doesn't look promising. And I'm not just talking
about the 401k. IBM is proceeding with the 2015 roadmap to kill as many American
jobs as they can. And it doesn't just kill our jobs, it drives down wages throughout
the entire industry. Where are you going to go when you get laid off if all
the jobs have been moved overseas? How much do you think you'll make? If they
succeed, and it looks like they will because they've been doing a pretty good
job of it so far, other companies will follow suit. IBM is a leader, sure, but
which direction are they leading? We have a responsibility to fight back against
this. And because they're going to succeed with the 2015 plan, that means the
fight needs to be carried on wherever we go. Because it's about the future of
the entire country. They'll drive down salaries and benefits as far as they
can. Remember, companies don't exist to give you a job, they exist to do business
and make money in whatever unethical way they can get away with. And when salaries
plummet, and jobs are scarcer than they are today, on that kind of reduced income,
without decent benefits, can you afford a car, a house, and what about your
medical bills, and what about your kids? What kind of future is there?
Companies look out for #1 - their (major) shareholders and executives. We should
look out for #1 too. But how do we do that? Hmm. Let's think about it. Individually,
you don't count for much. So what to do. What to do. Join the Alliance.
And it doesn't end after IBM. Whether you get laid off (which
is likely based on the 2015 roadmap) or not, things are not going to get better
in this country unless people stand up and fight. Don't think it doesn't matter,
don't think it won't make a difference, because eventually, when everyone
else sees the direction this is all heading, they'll wake up too, just like
you. They'll understand that what we need to do is come together and stand
up for ourselves and look out for our interests - we're in business too, aren't
we? We're not charity cases who show up and get paid for nothing! But our
voices get drowned out individually. We need to work together now, and in
the future, whether it's at IBM or somewhere else. -we are the
juggernaut-
Comment 12/07/12:
Hello, thank you for your leadership.
1. The link you give for signing on petition is broken...to me, would you confirm?
2. Is signing petition a "protected activity", i.e., IBM should not
retaliate against those of us who sign the petition, as this is unionized activity,
and protected by law? Thank you again! -Yan-
Alliance reply: Yes this is protected activity:
Protected Concerted Activity is a legal term used in labor policy to define
employee protection against employer retaliation in the United States. It is
a legal principle under the subject of the freedom of association. It defines
the activities workers may partake in without fear of employer retaliation.
The National Labor Relations Act, the main labor policy governing labor relations
in the United States, defines concerted activity in Section 7.
Section 7 - Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join,
or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives
of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose
of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection...[1]
Generally speaking, there is protected concerted activity when two or more employees
act together to improve their terms and conditions of employment. Employees
have a right to advocate in this manner even where there is no union involved.
At times, protected concerted activity has extended to individual employees,
like for example when an employee speaks individually to his or her employer
on behalf of him or herself and one or more co-workers about improving workplace
conditions. An individual employee who seeks to enforce a collective bargaining
agreement will generally be deemed to be engaged in concerted activity.
The Act does not limit the manner, time, or place in which employees can engage
in concerted activity. Consequently, in recent years, the General Counsel of
the National Labor Relations Board has often taken the position that employee
conversations about common workplace issues which make use of social media such
as Facebook and Twitter are protected against retaliation.
Comment 12/07/12:
I travel alot on business and have been told by management to
make sure I watch expenses and cut costs where I can, such as not taking toll
roads in states where it is very expensive and using the cheapest parking at
the airport, etc.. etc.. after this 401k fiasco I will assure you that I will
maximize every expense I can, I used to use coupons to save IBM 30-40% for parking
at the airport.. Well folks I just tore up those coupons and will never use
them again.. IBM is paying the full rate from here on out, LOL.. Going to seriously
start looking for a company who appreciates their workers because IBM DOES NOT!!
-401K BS-
Comment 12/07/12:
To DecadeIBMer: the article can be read for free at wsj.com
-An Onymous -
Comment 12/07/12:
This is the final nail in the coffin. I don't mean to sound
melodramatic but dollar cost averaging is one of the key advantages to the current
bi-monthly employer and employee contribution structure. The 401k Plus plan
was rolled out in 2008 because IBM wanted to save money, reduce the burden on
the company to sustain the pension program, and put the burden on the employee
to manage their retirement savings. When IBM rolled this out in 2008, the story
was that this program was the replacement for the pension program. That's right,
one of the largest IT companies in the world no longer provide pensions to their
employees. This new policy raises several more questions:
How will keeping the employer match help IBM?
Will they invest it and earn the profit (or loss) on the money?
If IBM files bankruptcy on December 14th in a future year, what happens to the
employer contribution?
Does it go to creditors or is the pro-rated amount given to employees?
IBM constantly "refines" staffing levels and "skills" through
the course of the year.
A more apt way of saying this is that IBM lays off employees in favor of cheaper
offshore labor, all at the detriment to the end clients IBM supports (cheaper
means less skilled labor). IBM will only pay the employer contribution to the
employee if they are an active employee as of December 15th. An employee could
be laid off on December 14th and they would not be eligible to receive the employer
match. This money would be retained by IBM.
Would IBM use this information as selection criteria for the reductions?
Why should IBM be permitted to keep the employer contribution?
The Wall Street Journal points out in the Friday, December 7th article that
IBM spent $875 million dollars in matching and automatic contributions. The
real question is: How much did IBM save since stopping the pension program?
I wonder how board members and shareholders feel about IBM watering down this
program. I hope that the US Department of Labor and the U. S. Treasury officials
investigate and force IBM to restore the program. What's next Big Blue? Requiring
employees to pick up more of the cost of medial and dental coverage? Oh wait,
that's already in place. -bogus-
Comment 12/07/12:
IBM will release 40% of US staff before 2015. This 401K trick
is a prereq. I'm sure the IBM lawyers have all the kinks worked out to keep
the US government from meddling. But what if most of the US staff just leave?
IBM dies in that scenario. From my experience, it's the Americans that are still
leading almost all projects, mostly staffed by GRs. So let's just kill the golden
goose.... yeah that makes sense. Watson must be rolling over in his grave.
-USux Apparently-
Comment 12/07/12:
This is yet another Christmas take away from IBM. Lets add them
up:
Pension gone, cash balance gone, employee stock ownership program gone, Variable
pay gone for sellers(with promise to invest on stock options that never happened),
Variable pay for non sellers decreased DRAMATICALLY, sellers used to be paid
monthly, now get paid quarterly in arrears, healthcare contributions WAY down,
home based workers now can't expense paper, pencils, folders, can't expense
a printer, can't expense a telephone, can't expense internet service, virtually
no raises to be had and every year they push the time for raises out a month
or two, promotions only available for executives. WHEN DOES IT END???? The union
should push to get these stories told on the news. -Anonymous-
Comment 12/07/12:
I signed the petition! I am an Alliance member. It cost me $10
per month. I think it is worth it. Please join, if you haven't already. There
is no other voice out there for IBM Employees. -OustGinny-
Comment 12/07/12:
So let me get this straight. IBM eliminates the pension plan
in 1999 and justified the change because future payment liabilities are skewed
toward the employee's later years and "younger"employees demanded
greater portability of their benefits. The result is a bargain payout of pension
obligation that results on 40 cents on the dollar and a new 'enhanced' 401K
plan that allows employees to take responsibility of their own future and increased
benefit portability.
"Among workers with retirement plans, the percentage covered by pensions
fell from 83% to 30% from 1980 to 2006, according to CRR [Center for Retirement
Research at Boston College]. Meanwhile, those in 401(k) plans, originally meant
to be supplementary only, rose from 40% to 92%. The cost savings of the switch
were big: IBM said at the time it expected to slash as much as $3 billion over
five years from its worldwide retirement revampâ? SOURCE: IBM Reinvents
the 401(k) by Amy Feldman on July 02, 2009. During the same time, high tech
employers like IBM clamor and lobby the government about the lack of available
high-tech workers asking the government for more H1B visas (IBM has filed 18876
H1B visa applications and 1481 green card applications since 2001, ranked 3
among all visa sponsors, with 4751 H1B visa applications in 2012), increased
STEM education investments, while colluding with other employers not to 'poach'
rival firm's employees keeping wages artificially low and while laying off thousands
of employees.
And corporate employers complain about high taxes (IBM paid an effective US
Federal tax rate of 3.8% over last three years" SOURCE: Study finds many
corporations pay tax rate of effectively zero by Bernie Becker on May 31, 2011)
and arguing that increasing taxes will kill job growth (corporate taxes are
1.3% of GDP, the lowest in history" SOURCE: Tax Policy Center - The Numbers:
What are the federal governmentâ??s sources of revenue?), record profits
(and stagnant revenue growth).
At the same time, these same companies (including IBM) continue to ask (no,
demand) for increased government spending on R&D, STEM education, tax credits,
while using government protection of intellectual capital and patents from other
competitors and countries. One might ask, given these historically low federal
taxes where is all of the "job growth"?
Ironically, IBM's "Smarter Planet" showcases their uncanny insights
into consumer behavior or even "Black Friday" sales and use as a poster
child to convince governments (and others) to buy IBM services and offerings
. Yet with all of these sophisticated "Smarter Planet" capabilities,
IBM cannot (publicly) answer a seemingly simple question: 'what is IBM's US
employee population?" ... not very compelling or insightful.
So now with this new 'enhanced'401K plan, IBM has eliminated a major "portability"
aspect of the 401K, eliminated the employee benefit of 'compounding' and "dollar
cost averaging", skewed payouts to 4Q flooding ~ $875M into the stock
market (a Wall Street bonanza), artificially depressing 4Q profits while "juicing
up" the preceding 3 quarters by roughly $220M per quarter. Financial
engineering at its best!
Something stinks here, reminiscent of the IBM Moffat / Wall Street Galleon
insider trading. Is it really a surprise that people are upset? Whether the
anger is from the "TEA party" (Taxed Enough Already) about ever
increasing government and paying more taxes (to offset corporate "handouts"
amidst declining corporate federal tax revenue); or the anger from the 99%
/ 'Occupy' movement about how the game is rigged against the "the rest
of us" in favor of big corporate interests - they are symptomatic of
the same problem and represent different sides of the same coin.
What if customers unilaterally changed their payment schedule to IBM pending
the successful completion of the project - how would IBM react?
And the timing of this latest 401K 'enhancement' during the US 'Fiscal Cliff'
debate, ensures that this will get little media / public attention ... letting
IBM, like a thief, slip silently into the night (again).
I feel like I am coming down with a major case of the BLUE FLU ... question
is what date should WE pick?
-BLUE_BARF-
Comment 12/07/12:
CNBC Power Lunch today just did a piece on the IBM 401(k) change.
Both interviewees said it's a raw deal for IBM employees: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?play=1&video=3000134058
-info-
Comment 12/07/12:
99% of IBMers (except those going to retire in 2013) think they
will still be employed at IBM come 12/15/13. So they might think this 401(k)
change is no big deal. Of course IBM management will spin it this way. THINK
TWICE. 10% of more of you will lose your matching contributions for your 401(k)
and if you ask me how this will happen then you are worse than an ostrich with
it's head in the sand! -anonymous2015-
Comment 12/07/12:
Not to many years ago, at a mandatory All Hands Meeting, a segment
of employees was informed by an Exec. that the intent of IBM was to shift the
majority of the US employee base responsibilities off shore by 2015, and only
provide a skeleton presence of US staff in the US. Since then this has played
out. Benefits have been adjusted, raises have been few and far between, Variable
Pay was renamed to a Bonus and only minimally awarded. RA's of all sizes have
continued. Increased workload mandates within a limit of 40 hours worked. PBCs
goals no longer specific to each employees actual job role, but rather the so
called intent of an entire divison. Employees being rated a 1 one year and without
warning a 3 12 months later with no prior warning or valid evidence of lack
of performance. US employees picking up the mess made by off shore personel
who can't even solve a problem without a predefined script. Face it, IBM now
has a very small window to complete their march to 2015 so those still with
IBM, hold on you're in for an even bumpier ride. I am usually neutral about
Unions, but at this point, those left need to seriously consider organizing
and bringing in the Alliance. If I recall the employees in Argentina Unionized
so maybe it is time for those still at IBM US do the same thing
-Ex-IBMer-
Comment 12/07/12:
WSJ "Ms. Madrian added that Labor Department and U.S. Treasury
officials "could be very interested in [IBM's move] and if they're concerned
about it, they could say, 'You can't do that.' " She said the agencies
could devise rules precluding IBM and other companies from depriving employees
who leave before a set date of their matching contributions." -member-
Comment 12/07/12:
Can someone please post the WSJ article...looks like you have
to subscribe to read it. Or please just post the DOL part that you mention of
interest. Thanks!!! Let us all UNITE in the fight to keep our jobs/benefits/lives/families
from being ruined by the Executive/Shareholder greed! -DecadeIBMer-
Comment 12/07/12:
Looks like the mainstream media is picking this up - this link is posted on
the front page at Yahoo: Iconic company's sly move upsets workers:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-changing-terms-retirement-plan-193600478.html
If anyone finds links to related stories at other media outlets,
please send them in! -Sunshine is the Best Disinfectant-
Comment 12/07/12:
Wall Street Journal article. Note comment on Labor dept.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323316804578163722900112526.html
-member-
Comment 12/07/12:
I am joining the Alliance today. After 5 years at IBM, I am
certain that the company is more focused on shareholders than the employees.
The latest 401K fiasco is the proof of it. I wish Alliance would publish the
number of active US Employees who have joined the alliance right on this page
so readers of this site know that how much support we need to Organize and inspire
people by numbers. -Still Here-
Comment 12/07/12:
Wow, amazing number of posts. Like this 401K thingy really opened
some eyes. I feel sorry for you who are at a loss, *sniff*, but face it, we
are all grown ups here and this is NOT AN ENTITLEMENT. It is called a Benefit.
Benefits are fair game without a contract so get used to the taking away because
it will get more intense. There might just be enough employees left to organize
and bind benefits that can be called Entitlements. Are you convinced yet?
-Geeze-
Comment 12/07/12:
Is it acceptable for HR people at IBM to join the union? I have
been anti-union all my life and have seen the excesses on the union side, but
IBM has over reached and needs to be unionized. One further point - Ginni is
using Randy to do her dirty work and do not fall for it when he "takes
the fall" - she needs to be held accountable for these actions.
-HR-
Alliance reply: Yes you can join as long as you are not in management (hire
and fire).
Comment 12/06/12:
When will you alliance people come take a union vote the SSRs
have been ready to join the CWA -Joe-
Alliance reply: We can't just come in and take a vote. SSR's have to, by Federal
Law, prove there is enough interest in having a union by joining the Alliance
in any of our 3 membership categories. You also have to help us by contacting
your co-workers and encouraging them to join.
Comment 12/06/12:
@-Hobo- The CE/SSR's are leaving IBM to go work for
EMC where they can pretty much double their salaries and only have to work on
one product line, disk. Others are taking lucrative jobs with clients. And IBM
doesn't give a hoot. They hire starry eyed college grads who work less than
5 years, leave and the cycle starts again. It's the beginning of the end for
the field force. Clients are pissed as well and IBM doesn't care. Any SSR that
has 10 years or less, get out now. Don't think it's going to get better because
it won't. You will NEVER, DO YOU HEAR ME, NEVER, make the kind of money your
30+ year peers are making. -slinky-
Alliance Reply: Why not organize the CE/SSR's and fight for a fair contract?
Comment 12/06/12:
Today we had an IC1 all hands meeting. Someone asked about resource
actions. They mentioned they had received multiple awards for their hard work,
but they said they would prefer not to receive the awards if IBM would just
stop the RA-s. Things are falling through the cracks, people are working very
hard, there aren't enough people or enough hours in the day to get everything
done. What was mgmts response?!?!...Basically Mgmt said we will continue to
do what we have been doing. It's not going to stop. We want to give the shareholders
good value. (Who cares about giving the customer good value). You will continue
to have to do more with less. Oh, and btw, We are down 4% in revenue. The speeding
train towards roadkill 2015 will not be stopped. It will just mean we will make
up the difference with MORE resource actions. Thank you for the great job you
have done for IBM this year. You've done such a great job, you'll have more
work and more hours next year. After we've sucked the life out of you, we'll
toss you away in one of the RAs. (oh, yeah, one more thing....don't expect a
raise in 2013 because you will be rated a 3 for your next appraisal).
-screwed-yet-again-
Alliance Reply: I wonder what IBM management would have said if someone stood
up in that "all-hands" meeting and said "What would happen if
everyone here at this meeting joined Alliance@IBM, right now?"
Comment 12/06/12:
401K Plus plan change will stir up people's mind and make their
life in worry every day at work! -IBMer-
Comment 12/06/12:
ERISA has two requirements on notification that might have been
violated for this 401K plan change - one is 30 days and the other is 45 days
from "http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/rdguide.pdf".
1) Notice of Significant Reduction in Future Benefit Accruals
- 45 days notice required before plan amendment.
2) Form 10-Advance - Advance Notice of Reportable Events) - 30 days notice required
before plan event -Anonymous 2-
Comment 12/06/12:
Even with all this 401k nonsense going on there are sill plenty
of people I work with drinking the kool-aid and standing by IBM the GDF and
all the FLM's. I hope those morons are the first to get RA'd. -johhny2times-
Comment 12/06/12:
They're messing with our retirement savings. Gone too far. Let's
class action these bums. Someone mentioned ERISA law in a previous post. Anyone
have Employment law contacts that can check? The plan documentation should be
public knowledge...I can't find it. -member-
Comment 12/06/12:
Heard more layoffs for the SWG group, and more for GTS as well
! PLus the 401k change wake up people you might want to stop this outright stealing
of your benefits! -ibmjoe-
Comment 12/06/12:
seems the petition against IBM for outsourcing jobs from Pok last
March (TA-W-81927 ) aren't playing nice with DOL.. seems DOL is unable to get
the list of the folks hit by the layoff , this petition would cover up to 2
yrs of education and cover unemployment benefits for all for 2 years.. Not surprising
for this company..so, anyone laid of last March call DOL at :518-485-1597..
opt 1 They are waiting to add your name to mail you the packet -Anonymous-
Comment 12/06/12:
No coal. Daily abuse. Living in terror of unemployment and homelessness.
Happy Christmas Scrooge Randy. -Bob Cratchit-
Comment 12/06/12:
I'm surprised that IBMers are surprised about the 401(k) change.
I'm even more surprised that they think management can be shamed or persuaded
to reconsider. Where on earth have you been working?? The IBM I once worked
for would have no problems doing this, and -- absent a union contract -- no
legal reasons not to. -irRational-
Comment 12/06/12:
Every time I get an email from RMAC COMM it's bad news.
-Still here-
Comment 12/06/12:
I hate to sound like a broken record, but if IBM Workers had
a Labor Contract that was negotiated through Collective Bargaining, timely payment
of 401(k) matching could be clearly articulated and mandated, and not left to
the vagaries of a ganef like Randy! Everyone who is affected by this change
should be mad as hell, and cry out that they're not going to take it anymore!
Stand up for what's rightfully yours! Join the Alliance today - Just do it!!!
-Elephant in the Room-
Comment 12/06/12:
IBM has cut so much that there is not much left. I was paying
healthcare insurance premiums of $900/month for a family, and so cheap on the
travel expenses went to San Francisco and had a $23 per diem. Just too funny.
Which is why I quit IBM after 1 year. The latest 401k change really should make
it impossible for IBM to get the top talent from now the word gets out fast!
-ibm sux-
Comment 12/06/12:
IBM is now hitting your retirement? The big guys sit around
the table and the question of the day is, what can we cut from them next? Is
there anything else? Yes there is. They can still hit you with more pay cuts
and not contribute to your 401 or pension at all. It's coming. Why? Because
you all sit back and just take it. Organize and Unionize, or it will just continue
until you are out the door. What are you all waiting for? -Gone_in_07-
Comment 12/06/12:
Look closely at your first 2013 paycheck. I bet IBM will not
tell you the match or automatic contributions they are storing for you to get
on 12/15/13. I bet you'll only see your 401(k)contribution. Much the same as
they pulled ESTIMATR in 1999 so you couldn't figure out what you lose with the
cash balance pension change. I had the old DOS pension estimator tool. So I
know how IBM benefit changes (call it legalized corporate thievery) can work
against the IBM employee. And a good reason I joined the Alliance. How 'bout
you joining now too? -Remember-
Comment 12/06/12:
Setting the stage to convert FTEs to sub-k. If they convert
all by Dec 15 '13, they keep all the cash. If FTEs do not want to convert, they
are RA'd with no severance. Either way they win. -CorpTheft-
Comment 12/06/12:
Thank you ALLIANCE. Please do all you can to stop this THEFT.
It is just so WRONG! How can this happen? We have to do something. I am a member.
All of the people reading this board and complaining, please join! Ten dollars
a month is worth the price to go out fighting at least. Would you just stand
there while someone kicks you in the ass? Well that's what they are doing to
US!!! Join! -JoinOrStopCrying-
Comment 12/06/12:
Sounds eerily a bit like the Future Health Account (FHA) heist
but on a smaller scale. In the FHA if you don't make 55 years old and at least
15 years of service you lose ALL the IBM ontributions. This 401(k) change is
similar in that you only lose up to a year in IBM contributions. -anonymous-
Comment 12/06/12:
This 401(k) change means you will lose any gains during the
course of the year you might have gained otherwise. That could have a huge impact
on retirement goals. Sounds like theft. Also, purchasing all stock at one time
means you miss out on dollar cost averaging, not a smart business decision.
This change could be viewed as a half-hearted attempt at eliminating 401(k)
matches. When the pension plan was retired, this match was touted as being the
compensation for losing the pension plan. Toying with it now just makes management
show their true colors. You've heard of the ipad and the iphone, well now you
have been hit with the i(bm). -watching from afar-
Comment 12/06/12:
OK, that's it. I'm joining the Union, this is the last straw
and I've had enough. I don't have much left to lose. I have not received a raise
in years and in spite of that:
1) Costs of just about everything I need to buy have gone up and net weights
of groceries and services have gone down.
2) IBM has spun off the costs of their commercial rent, electric, water and
sewage, heating and air conditioning costs to me. (WFH)
3) IBM has spun off the costs of their office phone, cell phone, and network
connectivity costs to me. (WFH)
4) Awards have dried up altogether.
5) Profit sharing has dwindled steadily.
6) My contribution to medical insurance has increased steadily.
7) High performers all around me are routinely RAâ??ed and replaced with
contractors and foreign workers.
8) PBC ratings are pre-determined, no longer have any basis in reality, and
are used as a vehicle to replace good regulars with contractors and foreign
workers.
9) My coworker contractor friends have had their hours cut. (No safety there
either)
10) I can't even order a pencil for work. (Supposed to come out of my pocket
too now?)
11) Now I can feasibly work for 11 months of the year and still not receive
my 401K match.
12) (Please reply and let me know all the things I forgot or missed)
And ALL THIS NOT because this company is in danger of bankruptcy,
BUT because a handful of greedy executives want to buy that new yacht, personal
jet, or vacation mansion and they donâ??t care what they do to employees
to get it. (Their compensation is already in the millions folks). Who is running
this company now anyway, the Genovese crime family? The Colombo crime family?
Actually, I think the Mafia looks at IBM with awe, admiration, and envy as
they continue to come up with new ways to shaft their employees that they
wouldnâ??t have thought of even with THEIR degenerative morals.
-Corrupt Planet-
Comment 12/06/12:
re: IBM 401K match. Everyone is focused on the losing money
aspect if an employee leaves and/or is fired. What about the money we all just
lost by not having the money in earlier to grow throughout the year - that IBM
now gets to make instead by investing with that money. Has anyone calculated
on average what this just took away from an IBM employee regardless of if they
are still employed and get the "bonus" IBM contribution at end of
year vs. throughout the year? -Also Consider-
Comment 12/06/12:
While the RA implications of this are interesting, I'm more
ticked that, despite Uncle Randy's attempts to pawn this off as a wash (we're
still getting the same match mumbo jumbo), this is a loss of benefit because
we're now losing out on potential gains throughout the year. -at215-
Comment 12/06/12:
Even Cringely chimes in - gotta love this guy!
http://www.cringely.com/2012/12/05/more-stupid-ibm-tricks-put-customer-data-at-risk/
-Laughable-
Comment 12/06/12:
Al Capone would even appreciate this heist. Get 11 months work
and contributions, which allows executives to make contributions BTW. Would
IBM emply a true layoff to save the money? Shutdown all non essential jobs for
3 weeks to keep from paying and then have a recall after the first. No contract
to force them to call laid off workers still employed. Win win win for the bottom
line. Lose lose lose once again for the rank and file employees. Wake up people.
-Exodus2007-
Comment 12/06/12:
I want to hear ideas for getting mgmt to reconsider this ill-fated
grab on 401(k)s. Do ERISA rules even allow you to still call this a 401(k)?
What about pressure from social media, news outlets, recruiting portals, etc?
This must be stopped! -Stop this theft-
Alliance reply: Yes all ideas welcome. The Alliance will be setting up a petition
soon for all workers AND family members to sign.
The media is being notified as well.
Comment 12/06/12:
Suggestion- which **may** be a long shot. IF- big IF Ibm was
making a monthly or quarterly match, which is now going to be a yearly match,
ERISA requires a 30- to maybe 60 day notice before making such a change. While
I would guess that McDummys memo was well vetted by the legal beagles, it is
not unheard of to slip up. Suggest those receiving such a memo- notice - immediately
write the Plan adminstrator and ask for the confirming LEGAL DOCUMENTS, and
when such a decision was made. Their answer or lack of it could be very important-
and in either case, one can not even start to change or explain why or why not
without such a document. Electronic certified mail works well - provides tracking
and signatures and is cheap -Yahoo-
Comment 12/06/12:
Has anyone else noticed that ESD/RSD CE/SSRs are leaving the
company in force? I know of whole towns with no coverage. And I have been told
that this is not limited to just one area. Also the techs are refusing to answer
their phones on their off hours. Bad deal for IBM and its customers. There really
is no reason to stick around these days with all they have taken from us. Retire
or quit now. BTW...they cannot find people to replace them. -Hobo-
Comment 12/06/12:
I can't believe this demoralizing change to the 401K match.
What a way to stick it to the employees. -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: Believe it. Now, do something about it. Join the Alliance and
let's fight back.
Comment 12/05/12:
@Drone and @BegBlewEmp: The move from Beaverton is
not back into Portland. It is further West into Hillsboro. This actually makes
it MORE difficult, not less to get to from Portland on Hwy 26. It is further
from the airport on the far side of Portland. So no, it's not a move back to
the actual city of Portland. Its entirely the opposite direction.
-Anonymous-
Comment 12/05/12:
"You must be employed on December 15 of each year to
receive your IBM contribution for that year."
Another reduction in compensation for those who don't make it to 12/15.
I wonder how much less folks are willing to work for. I don't see the bottom
yet. -Dave G.-
Comment 12/05/12:
Yes, looks like the brain trust has once again figured out how
to screw the people who actually work for a living,. Disgusting.. Hopefully
this will backfire on them.. BTW, how many of you receive correspondence from
Ginni? Apparently she doesnt know how to communicate too well. What does she
do besides scam $$ away from people who dont make much to begin with? At least
Sam kept in touch.. Hoping to leave soon and work for a company that appreciates
what I do for them.. goodbye Big Blew! -W-T-F?-
Comment 12/05/12:
401(k) PLUS plan? Hey, where is the PLUS in this change Randy
Mac? Call it just a 401(k) plan and remove the PLUS. And for those that get
screwed before 12/14/13 say it is a 401(k) MINUS plan. Season's Beatings from
IBM HR -dogbert-
Comment 12/05/12:
I have already been RAd but the last few years at IBM was "almost"
RAd 3 times before the end. I started front-loading my 401k (putting the full
amount in as early as possible in the year) to lock it in. At the end of the
year. Benefits seem to be eroding little by little. One thing I did learn at
the company was to get everything in writing, especially pertaining to benefits.
Consider though if you are going to retire and are RAd, your bridge time may
still qualify you as employed on Dec 15th (who knows). People seem surprised
that they pull this stuff, this is nothing compared to other pension shenanigans
in the past years. If they are holding the contributions aside in a notational
account "for you" during the year, I wonder if it is being booked
as an expense, maybe has a positive effect on tax liabilities for them? I am
sure that it is not corporate altruism! -been there-
Comment 12/05/12:
US Employees -- Randy wants you gone. Get ready for the "Great
401(k) heist" and 2013 Layoffs. United we stand, divided we fall.
-Joe Punchclock-
Comment 12/05/12:
Got let go in March, few things for those of you left, print
off all your previous PBC's , print off your IBM education classes. next IBM
speak for skills uses different vocabulary than the real world in many cases,
so look at your job and duties, and the IBm descriptions, then go look at similar
jobs in the market, you will need to reword your resume to use words that rest
of world uses, otherwise your IBM specific resume will not get many hits on
the online job search. Do this now rather than later, took me 6 months of applying
and learning before I started to get results from job search. -Anonymous-
Comment 12/05/12:
A long time ago I met a former IBM executive from finance who
had gone to work for a customer. On his tour of the customers data center, he
was shown the CE office, which was fairly spacious. His comment was,"We
don't really give those bastards this much space do we?" At first I was
personally offended by his comments, but as the years have marched on, I have
come to understand and agree with him. -gadfly-
Comment 12/05/12:
401K....and the cuts will keeping on coming. When your company'S
HR head testifies againt the minimum wage before Congress in 2011 you should
not expect anything else. -Joe-
Comment 12/05/12:
About the change in 401k - wow. Smells like massive RAs are
in store for next year. Good luck to those choosing to stay. -Glad-I-Left-
Comment 12/05/12:
Instead of making money the old-fashioned way, by earning it,
IBM is sinking to new lows to fund the EPS. Really? Taking money from your dedicated
employees and their families? Even after all of the abuse we have suffered in
the past few years. It should be VERY clear now, Folks. We have to organize.
I am a member are you? The truth is, IBM cannot make the big money in selling
services or hardware. Why? because the level of quality of both has gone in
the trash since they care more about shareholders then about satisfied customers
and happy employees. -Move-
Comment 12/05/12:
In 2013 Dec. 15th is a Sunday...so in a cruel and ironic twist
if you make it past Friday the 13th you will get your match. Unless your manager
calls with bad news on Saturday or Sunday, which I would not answer in this
case. Makes one think of 1) the savings realized by IBM when they RA folks prior
to D day, and 2) the investment income they will receive from holding onto those
dollars for the lucky bunch who make it to Friday the 13th. -Freddie-
Comment 12/05/12:
I wonder if this latest move applies to everyone? Exec's 401k
matches contingent upon survival??? Randy Douche? any comments? -RMcDoucheBag-
Comment 12/05/12:
In its latest move to demoralize its employees, IBM just announced
a change to how it will contribute pension amounts and matching contributions
to 401K. IBm has decided it needs the cash more than employees and thus will
hold onto it for the full calendar year keeping any gains for itself. IF you
manage to stay employed through Dec 15, then you can have the contribution amount
earned all year on the last business day of the year. But get let go on Dec
14 and IBM gets to keep it all. This time they didn't even try to sugar coat
it as if it was something good for employees. -anonymous-
Comment 12/05/12:
Another way for IBM to save money from going into employees' pockets
was announced today by Randy MacDonald. The 401K Plus Plan matching contribution
deposits are changing Jan 2013. Instead of being deposited semi-monthly it gets
deposited at year end providing you are still employed on Dec 15th. This can
be thousands of dollars saved per individual who gets RA'd before Dec 15th.
Stockholders are surely laughing all the way to the bank over this one.
-anonymous-
Comment 12/05/12:
hi-ho the theft continues. 401(k) matches will only occur ONCE
a year only if the IBMer is employed on Dec. 15th... so just lay off folks before
then... -Drone-
Comment 12/05/12:
Just when you think things aren't going to get worse..they DO!
I just got an e-mail stating they are changing the 401k plan. Next year, IBM
holds back all their matching contributions until 12/15. If you are still here
you get a lump sum put into your account. If you get RA-ed at any time during
the year, you don't get ANY matching contribution. How much longer is it going
to take to wake people up and organize. -dun-4-
Comment 12/05/12:
So looks like IBM is setting themselves for cost savings when
laying off in 2013. IBM 401K matching is not bi-weekly anymore but yearly.
"You must be employed on December 15 of each year to receive your
IBM contribution for that year. For eligible IBMers, the IBM match and automatic
contribution will be deposited to your account on December 31, 2013" -Dismayed
in Dallas-
Comment 12/05/12:
"Beginning January 1, 2013, IBM is changing the timing of the
IBM match and automatic contribution for our 401(k) Plus Plan and Excess 401(k)
Plus Plan from semi-monthly to an annual contribution at the end of the year.
You must be employed on December 15 of each year to receive your IBM contribution
for that year. For eligible IBMers, the IBM match and automatic contribution
will be deposited to your account on December 31, 2013"
y'all know what this really means..... -W_T_F-
Comment 12/05/12:
Received email from RMAC that 401(k) contributions will only be matched
at the end of the year, starting in 2013. SOOOO, if you don't make it to December
15, of the year, NO MATCH! -Frandy-
Comment 12/05/12:
Announcement today regarding 401(k) contributions moving to a
once yearly IBM contribution in 2013. Contribution to be on December 31 for
that year, and you must still be employed at IBM on December 15 to received
the contribution. While those who retire or elected to take the "Transition
to Retirement" will get their match and pro-rated automatic contributions
at the time of their retirement, IBM stands to pocket a significant amount for
those that quit or get RA'd up to and including December 14. -Vested-
Comment 12/05/12:
IBM keeps screwing their workers. 'You must be employed on
December 15 of each year to receive your IBM contribution (401k) for that year.'
-NonOfUrB-
Comment 12/04/12:
1st lines rank people and many managers advocate for a better
distribution. Occasionally it succeeds, but not by a great deal. Most managers
were non-managers at one point (some go back and forth between managing and
not managing - some refuse to be managers anymore because participating in RAs
is so repugnant to them). 2nd lines have to force a more sever distribution
on 1st lines than lots of 1st lines want. Some 1st lines are just lousy - they
like to give the lowest evaluation they can even though there's no benefit to
the employees or to the 1st line - that's just the way some people are. Some
managers do everything they can to get as good evaluations as they can for everyone
who deserves it and some succeed and some fail. There's no specific corporate-mandated
pattern by which all 1st line managers act alike, though they ARE ultimately
required to fit their evaluations into a pattern that comes from above without
being explicit (kind of like traffic cops not having a quota but having to conform
to expectations). -George LeRoy Tirebiter-
Comment 12/04/12:
Why We Need Labor Unions After All:
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/why-labor-unions-172114831.html
-Common Sense-
Comment 12/04/12:
@-BegBlewEmp- The move in Beaverton has to do with
getting out of the old Sequent campus and moving back to the actual city of
Portland, which would be more accessible to a larger employee base. The traffic
along highway 26 and the lack of easy transit access makes the current campus
pretty unfriendly... -Drone-
Comment 12/04/12:
No RAs announced for end- of-year holiday jeer?
-anonymous2015-
Comment 12/04/12:
I work in IBM Austin. It appears that IBM is planning to close
down Portland, Oregon (I think real city is Beaverton; per bluepage of my colleagues
in Portland office). The Portland facility houses around 800 employees. The
word is that IBM has already leased some other facility, and people will move
there in Q1 2013. At the new place the employees asked to time-share office
space, work from home, cannot keep personal stuff in their cubes, no monitors
allowed (only laptops; if you are a developer -- what do you do ?). But, the
feeling is that the "move" is disguise to close down the facility
and get rid of 800 or so employees. -BegBlewEmp-
Comment 12/03/12:
The 1st lines are the ones who rank their people. The 2nd lines
feed them the distribution numbers. The 1st line doesn't want the people to
think they ranked them so they hint it is the 2nd lines who make the decisions.
Don't be fooled your manager is the one who rated your PBC. Rarely a 2nd line
will make or change a rating. -benthere-
Comment 12/03/12:
Enough discussion on how far in advance PBC Ratings are determined,
because it's completely irrelevant! What we do know is that the PBC system is
a complete farce, that ratings are determined well in advance based on financial
and "political" concerns, and that ratings have little or no relationship
to actual individual results. Instead of bickering about things that don’t
matter, why don’t you do yourself and your co-workers a favor and avail
yourself of the opportunity that is provided to you under Federal Labor Law
to change things for the better by organizing? Union representation may not
be perfect, but it is the only avenue provided to US workers to give them a
voice in how they are treated, especially when dealing with the management of
a company as large and powerful as IBM. So, if you really want meaningful reforms
to the system IBM Management uses for employee evaluations, then join the Alliance,
because the only way any of us are going to have a shot at getting things changed
is through collective bargaining via Union representation. -New
Alliance Member-
Comment 12/03/12:
What frustrates me about PBC ratings is how subjective it can
be from one div/dept to another. I know for a fact that a division in Corporate
would dole out the '1' to different people from year to year to 'share it'.
This was regardless of whether the person who got it, deserved it. Very frustrating
to hear that crap especially when my division was hard pressed to give out a
'1', even when it was deserved. -anon-
Comment 12/02/12:
Yeah, I agree! 2nd lines don't decide PBC for individuals. That's
decided between 1st line with input from team leads. One reason, which is understandable,
way IBM management has possibly taken this seemingly anti-employee posture is
because before all of the heavy cuts started happening, there was a mountain
of push back from "SOME" of the long time IBMers. I personally met
some awesome IT professionals but I also ran into "SOME" folks that
were not excited to get things done. Maybe burnt out is a better way of putting
it. Then things just starting going really fast after that with greed driven
action for increase stockholder profits and minimal effort to introduce any
real innovation taking center stage. Thus IBM turned into a company that once
valued its employees to a company that saw employees as a resource only. Welcome
to the new age of the modern work place where you have plug in workers that
requires you to have no real appreciation for them other than the labor of their
hands and technical skills. All I can say is have your Resumes up-to-date and
make sure you savings account is good for say 3 to 6 month. February is coming!
As a matter of fact, don't wait till February. Start floating your resume around
now, if you haven't already, and get a feel for what's happening in your area
based on your skill set. Lastly, don't disrepair. There really is life outside
of IBM!!!! -GladToBeGone-
Comment 12/02/12:
The IBM guidelines clearly say your can not record a meeting,
so to try to use it would just give IBM cause for termination. -Left2012-
Comment 12/01/12:
Information_Obligations_for_H1B_Employers_Sponsors
Does anyone know where IBMs public access file is? Public access
file: H1B regulations require that the employer maintain a public access file
which is to be made available for public inspection. The file must contain documentation
showing that the employer is complying with the aforementioned requirements.
-Freedom-
Comment 12/01/12:
To -Glad-I-Left-: You said "I also believe
that if you are above age 40 and/or been with IBM for, say, 15-20+ years, you
will get no better than a 2."
You are incorrect. I have been over 40 since I joined IBM nearly 15 years ago
and have received mostly 1s and 2+s (after 2+ was added to the ratings system).
And some 2s. Interestingly, never two 1s in a row despite consistently strong
performance over the years. More like 2-1-2+-1-2-1-2+-1 etc. Last year I got
a 1, so I'll probably get a 2 for 2012 despite having a better year than last
year. :-/ -Anonymous-
Comment 12/01/12:
Interesting news on Friday... after my team was told we had
to have our PBC input done by 11/16 and our results would be discussed with
us"soon", our manager told us that PBC reviews would be delayed until
January and we'll have a chance to update our input then, reflecting results
through December. I wonder if that indicates there's no large RA planned until
1Q13 at the earliest? -Anonymous-
Comment 12/01/12:
"I don't believe that PBC ratings are determined by
2nd lines a year in advance. Unless you can provide evidence of this, stop spreading
rumors."
If once you are informed of your RA and are given 30 days to find another
job AFTER your PBC is signed by your second line and you are barred from reporting
to your IBM worksite and office when your third line is present there (since
your second line is remote to your site). And any calls or e-mails to your second
line go unanswered? Is that enough proof? -it's_true-
Comment
12/01/12: Today
is inn-o-vation jam! The only thing "innovative" that IBM has done
is the recycling of 19th century labor practices into the 21st.
-Bee Jammin-
Comment 11/30/12:
This just in: Our fabulous USA congress
(some lame duckers) approved more H1B tech visas. More RAs for IBM no less.
So much for the past USA election and the "change" that people want
to take place. So how is the USA tech unemployment gonna gown DOWN now? The
USA has got to be the only country on this planet that cares less for its citizens'
job opportunities than any other fly by night rogue regime country. -that's_all_folks_from_porky_pig-
Alliance reply: As we have said before, we need to hold both parties accountable.
We also need a mass outcry and action from IBM workers and other IT workers.
Comment 11/30/12:
For those thinking of recording their PBC phone call. I ask:
Who would you play it back to? Your spouse to show them why you are stressed
out?. Your analyst for the same reason? IBM management would fire you on the
spot if you played it back to any of them. The courts would probably charge
you with a crime. A collection of them might get a laugh as a comedy skit at
the union hall you dont have. Hey. Maybe thats a better idea. Get a union and
a local and a hall to compare lies in out of the cold while meeting with your
coworkers. Freedom to organise. What a concept. -Exodus2007-
Comment 11/30/12:
I don't believe that PBC ratings are determined by 2nd lines
a year in advance. Unless you can provide evidence of this, stop spreading rumors.
IBM simply isn't going to require 2nd lines to deal with the peons on an individual
basis - i.e. have a 2nd line come up with a PBC rating for everybody below them.
That's what first lines are for (first lines are nothing more than supervisors,
really) What I do believe is that levels above 2nd line dictate how many of
each PBC rating level can be given within a department. I also believe that
if you are above age 40 and/or been with IBM for, say, 15-20+ years, you will
get no better than a 2. IBM does not want old-timers around. You cost too much.
Join the union or leave IBM. I left IBM for a job with much better pay and a
rating system where you're rating on YOUR contributions, not your manager's
perception of your contributions compared to your co-workers. -Glad-I-Left-
Comment 11/30/12:
-Do-I-Hear-An-ECHO- , Sorry
didn't read it as TIC and assumed the only echo that was heard was your voice.
If the ibm'er won't join a picket line, then they can't hear the echo
-benthere-
Comment 11/30/12:
Judge OKs bonuses for execs in Hostess liquidation:
http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/29/news/companies/hostess-bonuses/index.html
-Management Pigs at the Trough-
Comment 11/29/12:
-VA172- "IBM Corp. officials have encouraged companies
to bring them their toughest problems"
------------------------
For what? Does ibm know how to solve problems? They can't even
grow their own revenue. Smarter Planet? Really? Ibm got sued by Austin,TX and
Indiana. So, Smarter Planet seems bit of a reach for a company that struggles
doing IT services for a city and a few states. Ahh, I got it, they want companies
to bring them their outsourcing problems to solve. Ibm is certainly the expert
there. -toughestWhat?-
Comment 11/29/12:
Not sure what is up with the deal with Phoenix 40mill to support
IBM staff but Phoenix took a loss of 63mill and is in trouble. Something doesn't
add up. Plus there is an all hand meeting for GTS on Dec 13th -whatever-
Comment 11/29/12:
I had 27 years with IBM The PBC you will receive has already
been given at the beginning of each year by a second line manager.It gives IBM
a way to RA employess who received a PBC of three. -ANA-
Comment 11/29/12:
IBM Corp. officials have encouraged companies to bring them
their toughest problems, as they announced plans for an analytics center in
Ohio focused on data crunching and consulting services How many of these will
end up being foreign workers brought here. Would doubt that these will be IBM
employees as they can hire and lay off contract people easier. Also no benefits......
-VA172-
Comment 11/29/12:
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2012/11/28/phoenix_it_group_ibm/
IBM outsources UK desktop support operation lock+stock to
Phoenix 180 engineers get new business cards for Xmas Free whitepaper - IDC:
Top Five Considerations for Cloud-Based Security Exclusive IBM is the Global
Services Provider (GSP) that is outsourcing desktop support to Phoenix IT Group,
The Channel can reveal. Yesterday Phoenix confirmed it has penned a five-year
£40m contract with an unnamed GSP to provide desk-side services for the
firm's employees as well as its customers. -Anon-
Comment 11/29/12:
In_a_symbolic_shift_IBMs_India_workforce_likely_exceeds_U.S.
In a symbolic shift, IBM's India workforce likely exceeds U.S. IT salaries
in India for all firms close to minimum wage in America
-anon-
Comment 11/28/12:
@benthere-- I know exactly what lowering the rates means because
it is all a numbers game, the lower the rating, the lower the raises, and much
easier to manipulate the masses. My Point is that people are still taking the
abuse, and hardly anyone will stand up for themselves. The "echo"
means the same abuse and same lack of reaction. -Do-I-Hear-An-ECHO-
Comment 11/28/12:
I Believe it is illegal to record a conversation without the
other person's approval. You would risk immediate termination for cause, possible
legal and maybe even civil repercussions. Best think would be to make sure you
document thoroughly your accomplishments based on the worthless goals established
at the beginning of the year and show how you exceed them in all categories.
It's all about relative contribution and how you have gone above and beyond
your expected duties to the point where you contributed to drive department
and regional projects. The message being communicated is that if you just did
your job and did it extremely well, that's great you are a solid performer.
If you demonstrated exemplary leadership and drove organizational goals to completion,
then you may have justification for a 2+ Key is to document all of your accomplishments
starting from the beginning of the year.
By now technically you should have a rough draft of your PBC completed needing
only a few tweaks to add your accomplishments from the last 30 days. (A good
manager would have explained this to you at the beginning of the year. It's
up to you to follow through on the mentoring and coaching info when given)
Moreover, Even after you have done all of this, when the decision has to
be made on whom to cut, none of that will really matter. It's a crap shot
where the best logic is not always being used. Your motivation for doing this
has to be sourced from within as you know it's the way to professionally govern
yourself and to manage your career.
Lastly, if you are not monitoring the market and working to keep your skills
current, you are setting yourself up for a long post IBM mountain to climb.
I was out of work for only 2 months. Some of this was due to the timing as
hiring in the technology sector had picked up. But other reasons are because
I didn't let my skills become obsolete and I didn't let the IBM Sweat shop
atmosphere tarnish my attitude or enthusiasm.
Hang in there and remember there is life after IBM. Just have
a plan on how you are going to transition in mind and ready to invoke. (This
by the way assumes that your resume is current and hot ready to be released
at a moments notice - if not what are you waiting on?) -GladToBeGone-
Comment 11/28/12:
Do U work @ 1 of IBM's delivery centers or GDF? Let the Alliance
know what's happening at Ur site. Post Ur info here: http://bit.ly/UsnOui
-@Allianceibm on Twitter-
Comment 11/28/12:
@DontGiveUpEasily-- Your frustrations are totally understood,
but not very fruitful. It is not legal or you cannot legally use a recorded
conversation without the consent of the person(s) being recorded. The only thing
this would do for you is self satisfaction. I very much doubt the manager would
concede to being recording if you ask them. Think about some conference calls
when they tell you "this call is being recorded, if you have any objections
you can hang up now". This is meant for the question/answers at the end,
thus YOU consent to the recording. Non-consented phone recordings are only admissible
if there is a very serious felony, (your being employed is not in this category),
and/or this is a smoking gun. The Alliance can provide much better guidance
than this. -Joining-Alliance-would-be-more-functional-
Comment 11/28/12:
"I will be recording my PBC call with my manager this
year...challenge the reasons behind the rating."
None of this will do you any good. First, you will not win the PBC rating
battle. In the very unlikely case you win the battle, you will lose the war
(will become a target for the next RA). Your energy would be better spent in
finding another job or joining/promoting the union. -BlueRobin-
Comment 11/28/12:
I was recently told to "go find a job" because of
"budget cuts" and our group in IBM is "not important anymore".
When I asked if there was a severance package I was told "NO" because
"this is not an official resource action"...anybody hearing something
similar? What new ploy is this? -still scared-
Alliance reply: Please contact the Alliance at ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
Please send us more information on your situation.
Comment 11/27/12:
-DontGiveUpEasily- You should check your local [state]
laws before recording the PBC call. In some states that would be a felony. -Careful
Partner!-
Comment 11/27/12:
@Do-I-Hear-An-ECHO- I hear it seems you did not understand
the 2+ rating when it was introduced. There was a period where the management
knew the 1st lines would overload the 2+ workers. Then the %'s started to go
down. The next goal is to bring it down to 10% kind of like a 1- just to make
some feel better. That would make the 2 performer just the average joe. Get
the picture now as it lowers the raise pool.
@Exodus2007- I'm impressed on how you keep beating your drum. Sometimes
I wonder if anyone is hearing it. Keep it up. -benthere-
Comment 11/27/12:
if you choose to record your calls, do it legally. Unless you
have a court order to bypass the law, you have to either verbally tell the party
you're recording the call or play an audible beep every, 5 or 10 seconds (or
something like that). -anonymous-
Comment 11/27/12:
We have been told that most folks should not expect a 2+
this time. I guess its employee contribution to roadkill with less SIPs next
year. -Anon-
This is what happened last year, I don't understand why IBM'ers
tolerate this abuse? -Do-I-Hear-An-ECHO-
Comment 11/27/12:
I like what Walmart workers did. They drew some attention to
their cause. For IBMers that are PBC 3 or gonna be a PBC for this cycle or have
gotten RA notice: what do you have to lose by picketing IBM by just walking
of the job, just for a day? Who know the attention drawn might start IBM to
backpedal just like they did in 1999 with the pension change. -WhyNot?-
Comment 11/27/12:
I will be recording my PBC call with my manager this year. I
would suggest we all do the same. If you work at home as most of us do, take
the call on your home phone on speaker, and have your iPhone recording the conversation.
If the PBC rating is lower than expected, challenge the reasons behind the rating.
Have your ammunition ready to support your questions. -DontGiveUpEasily-
Comment 11/26/12:
"best" listing but now doesn't even make in in the
top 100. That's right because ibm is trying to reduce overall employment, not
attract people. Why would they want to make to make it look like a good place
to work. The ship is not sinking, it's done sunk. The remaining employees are
too late and screwed. -blueboatanchor-
Comment 11/26/12:
It never ceases to amaze me. People come here to lament its
too late for me now. Has it been too late since 1999? Others seem almost frantic
in their hopes that somehow IBM's business practices will cause the company
to fail. Why would you want the company you work for to fail? I want them to
be insanely successful so they can pay me my fair share as negotiated in the
contract I hope they are forced to sign one day by us organizing. I do not accept
them being successful at MY expense and you should not either. I am sick of
living my life from rumor to rumor and worrying about whispers down some long
dark hallway. I want a contract. I want to KNOW what my compensation is, what
it will be and what severance I can expect if I am layed off. I want to know
if I will be recalled from a layoff or if I should start looking for a new job.
I want to KNOW what my job responsibility is, clearly defined, not other duties
as assigned so I can be screwed by umbiguous rhetoric come appraisal time. If
a manager is out to get me I want a shop steward to help me face him down. I
see people rightfully complain year after year about record profits and nothing
for me. But what did they do to make sure they got a piece? Nothing. Didn't
join Alliance. Didnt show up at protests. Didnt talk up the union on coffee
breaks with coworkers. So how can they expect different results year to year
with the same non actions? It amazes me. -Exodus2007-
Comment 11/26/12:
SWG is required to submit PBCs early this year (deadline is
11/30)... So, it will very likely be part of the 1Q13 big RA! -Still_IBMer-
Comment 11/26/12:
-IBMtwistedLogic- Oh, if your a second line or director
or above you at least can count on your PBC 2+ or 1 o matter what you do or
have done. And so it goes.. and you go.. and continue to go. -anonymous-
Comment 11/26/12:
-RoadKilledagain- Give credit to these companies for
at least reporting their USA employee numbers. We all know why IBM doesn't declare
it's USA employee count. IBM is despicable. Plain and simple. IBM a USA corporate
company? C'mon... IBM at least give us an HONEST US estimate? What R U hiding?
Ginni do you even have an ear? I have no respect for IBM as a corporation. As
a company. As a business. As even an entity. -anonymous-
Comment 11/26/12:
Look at every link such as turn over rate, pay , job growth,layoffs....
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/2012/size/
IBM used to be in the top 5 in every "best" listing
but now doesn't even make in in the top 100.... An on it goes...
-RoadKilledagain-
Comment 11/26/12:
Record profits for 2012 = no more than a PBC 2 for top performers
and likely RAs to follow. -IBMtwistedLogic-
Comment 11/26/12:
Heard from a manager today, rumor has it another big round of
layoffs 1Q13 in GBS My manager has hinted also that he expects layoffs 1Q (our
whole dept will be wiped out) -Toolate4me-
Alliance reply: It is never too late to resist. Get your co-workers together
and do some kind of action.
Raise your voices! Contact the Alliance for help on this.
Comment 11/26/12:
Check out this link: http://www.endicottalliance.org/newsupdate.htm
Scroll down until you see "Stop Off-Shoring our jobs!
Informational pickets April 24."
This was broadcast to ALL Alliance members through emails, as well as IBMers
that somehow had not heard of Alliance@IBM. It was also on the front page of
this web site for a week or more in advance. The press was notified and so were
other unions, that the April 24th pickets would be happening at the 7 locations.
This was also posted on Facebook and Twitter during that same time. The bottom
line is that IBMers that ask if we have done pickets and demonstrations to draw
attention, have to also be the IBMers that are ALSO willing to come out and
stand along side their co-workers. If they don't because they are afraid of
losing their jobs and instead wait for someone else to picket; then there will
be very little success. The Wal-Mart workers that picketed this past week, are
still susceptible to losing their jobs; but they did it anyway. IBMers will
probably lose their jobs even if they don't picket, because IBM will continue
to go forward with their 'Roadkill 2015' plan or whatever new plan they decide
to implement next. Stand up for something or fall for anything. In this case,
Stand up for your jobs now, or fall into the unemployment line. That's the choice
and the bottom line. -Picket IBM?-
Comment 11/26/12:
We have been told that most folks should not expect a 2+ this
time. I guess its employee contribution to roadkill with less SIPs next year.
-Anon-
Comment 11/25/12:
Look at the Walmart workers who picketed on Thanksgiving in
places like NJ. Why can't IBMers do the same soon? -anonymous-
Alliance reply: The Alliance held pickets at 7 locations around the country
this past April.
Attendance was poor to very poor. We did a lot of advance work to no avail.
Thanks though to those brave IBM workers who picketed on behalf of their co-workers.
Comment 11/22/12:
Shep, last year PBC's had to be completed by the employees by
the end of the 1st week of Nov and then we had to signoff on them before Dec
14th. Then the big RA hit in mid-Feb with an exit date of end of March. Who
knows when the next big one will hit, but it is on the way no doubt.
-2012 RAd IBMer-
Comment 11/22/12:
Would like to thank the Alliance for this website and efforts.
Appreciated the posting comments. I only was with ibm for 18 months, never understanding
why I was hired in the first place. Considering that I had 42 years of experience
before coming onboard, I was never put on an assignment in my field, and spending
most of my time on marketplace without any support trying to get my own work
as an employee which I did do for 3 short term 'killer' assignments that nobody
wanted. At 66 have been on UC/EUC for 7 months and just started a long term
(hopefully) consulting assignment that I commute to. I wish everyone well and
hope that rumored RA does not take place. -RA'DbyGBSinFeb2012-
Comment 11/22/12:
shep I assume you understand why contractors are hired and fired
. If you know this then getting rid of them is SOP. As to PBC's it's the same
story just a year later. -benthere-
Comment 11/22/12:
I envision that one day we will all watch how the demise of
IBM was played out on an episode of American Greed. All of the buzz-word spewing,
fake corporate idiots have their best interests in mind, not ours. All FTEs
that come to this board to fuel the fires of panic and search for gossip about
"WHEN" it will happen should re-channel that energy into doing something
about it. Let's organize something. The first step is to Join. Grab a helmet
and get in the game people. Together we can do something. -Ginni
Madoff with my Pension!-
Comment 11/22/12:
A reality check from Paul Krugman on the "not taxing job
creators" myth:
Krugman-the-twinkie-manifesto.html
-Anonymous-
Comment 11/21/12:
What a grand opportunity for the unions involved in Hostess
to buy up the Twinkies brand and show the world how a union managed business
can pay top dollar and top benefits and still make a reasonable profit. Although
if the union owns it that would be basicly employee owned so would a profit
be needed or just the good jobs be profit enough? That may very well be the
only solution for mainstreets crisis. The profit would be needed to repay the
initial investment I suppose. What an interesting idea. -Exodus2007-
Comment 11/21/12:
Two weeks ago (Nov 5-9) 100 contractors were let go including
at least some from the GDF Including Poughkeepsie. Last week an unknown number
were let go, including Fishkill. Thanksgiving week has had none that I am aware
of. I wonder if IBM off is laying us off slowly hoping nobody notices or to
avoid the WARN act. Also managers are being insistent that PBCs were due Monday.
People in Fishkill think an RA is coming by Nov 30th. -shep-
Comment 11/20/12:
-IBMGoat- 1st line managers have for the most part
been a useless commodity since the mid 90's. 2nd lines were micro-managing them
for more years than I can count. I retired 15 years ago and have never looked
back. My last years there people were in such bad moods that even my 1st line
manager would not acknowledge a good morning by me. 2nd line acted like he didn't
know who I was. I still keep in contact with a couple of the people I worked
with and they all have an 'I don't care' attitude because at some point in time
they will also be let go. Several years ago 5 people were layed off and rehired
several weeks later as contractors and told there was more than enough work
to keep them busy for 5 years. -VA172-
Comment 11/19/12:
-LONG GONE- Alliance is right. You really need to do
your homework.
The Company was basically "Bained" by vulture capitalists. Just like
what Bain Capital did to many many companies, under Romney's direction. Here's
what the Hostess company did:
Even as it blamed unions for the bankruptcy and the 18,500 job losses that will
ensue, Hostess already gave its executives pay raises earlier this year. The
salary of the companyâ??s chief executive tripled from $750,000 to roughly
$2.5 million, and at least 9 other executives received pay raises ranging from
$90,000 to $400,000. Those raises came just months after Hostess originally
filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
Union employees voted to disapprove a contract with Hostess that would have
cut wages by 8%, increased healthcare costs by 20%, eliminated pension supplements
and the eight-hour work day. The union workers did not RUIN the company. The
union only threatened a strike, after the above rejection of the "bad faith"
contract that the company proposed. Educate yourself about what unions really
do. Read more, -LONG GONE-.
I suggest that IBMers learn something from this. Form your union ASAP. Stand
together and fight for fair treatment, benefits, wages, and pensions. The bigger
number of IBMers that join the Alliance and start publicly telling their story
of how IBM has fired nearly 50,000 US IBMers since 2005 and offshored those
jobs, the sooner something will change. Get some attention and don't give up.
I'm truly sorry for the Baker's Union that got clobbered by the Hostess company
Executives twice. Now it's rumored that the company will *possibly* try to re-negotiate
with the Baker's Union. Maybe public pressure helped. Maybe Media exposure helped.
You can be damned sure that the Baker's Union fought as long as possible and
never gave up. This may be a testimony to their will to make things better by
fighting together and keeping their union. You IBMers need to fight together
and get YOUR union. -Read Much?-
Comment 11/19/12:
Hostess Out of Business!! Not really, this is all about breaking
up the union people. Once all the dust has settled someone will start making
Twinkies again, but they will be a non-union shop no question. We should all
join the union and stand together. -gdfloser-
Comment 11/19/12:
DOUBT THAT THIS WILL MAKE IT TO THE BOARD, BUT I'M COMPELLED
TO OPINIONIZE.
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK TO HOSTESS, UNION HAS KILLED ANOTHER GOOD PAYING
COMPANY. THE UNION CALLED FOR A STRIKE AND HOSTESS HAD ENOUGH AND WENT BELLY-UP.
WATCH WHAT YOU WISH FOR, YOU TOO COULD JOIN HOSTESS EMPLOYEES ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT
LINE. -LONG GONE-
Alliance reply: You need to do your homework. The company was taken over by
a group of vulture capitalists who have been plundering the company and ripping
off the workers. It was the workers that said enough is enough.
Comment 11/19/12:
@NoLongerBlue interesting stays on the RA, is that
GBS only? I think the management numbers should be more on the order of 40%...
I am amazed as to the layering of mgt over the past 5 years or so...all the
first and 2nd lines do are delegate VP reqests to an already overworked staff.
Some first lines are completely useless. -IBMGoat-
Comment 11/18/12:
In an area on the East Coast, Sub-Ks are being asked to furlough
one day a week. Managers are also being asked (forced) to PBC full-timers with
a 3 to justify RA. Not all full-timers, but upper management wants to see a
couple of PBC 3s. -GinniRomettyLooksLikeNurseRatched-
Comment 11/18/12:
They let go of two sr Subk doing SAP support for ITD....This
is after 2 IBM FTE's were resourced actioned in Feb. Now left with 1 subk and
1 architect, with work for 6FTE's...no overtime, and furloughed 7 days until
Dec 7th. -Anonymous-
Comment 11/18/12:
-UnionsUnite- Re: WalMart, if you've not already read
it, I suggest getting a copy of "The High Price of Low Cost" for an
insight in to WalMart's practises. -Gone but not forgotten-
Comment 11/17/12:
Profit before patient care, IBM again layoff workers at Kaiser
Health care for profit, thinking the India sources can pick up the slack when
the customer has ask for America works to perform major health care changes
not the India staff. Orders to not work overtime and furlough the staff.
-Anonymous-
Comment 11/16/12:
In IBM if you don't grow an extra set of b***s then grow another
set of eyes behind you head. You gotta watch your back constantly in this Big
Blew. IBM are out to take out as many resources they can for whatever reason,
petty or not. Hopefully you are not made a turkey roadkill this holiday season.
Please unionize soon. -gobbled-
Comment 11/16/12:
Has anyone seen CNBC's Closing Bell piece around 15:20 EST about
two Walmart workers threatening to walk out after reporting to work if they
have to work on Thanksgiving (and on separate shifts at that) If these employees
requested time off like vacation time or even to work on the same shift then
they should not be forced to work. Surely Walmart has adequate employee coverage.
Aren't they the biggest employer in the USA? A Walmart management spokesman
replied and obvious does not know that if Walmart company policy is not to allow
employee association with a union is breaking NLRB law. Kudos to the Fletchers
fight. I wish them luck and hopefully a Happy Thanksgiving without retaliation
or loss of their jobs at Walmart. Wish I would see one IBMer who would stand
up like they just did for better workers' conditions. Solidarity forever!
-UnionsUnite-
Comment 11/16/12:
Amazing. A few years ago there was this big clean up which give folks
a change to resolve bad expense reporting practices. Things like personal use
spending on Corporate Card and mistakenly documented items were handled with
a "clean it up and don't let it happen again" response unless it was
an excessively outrageous violation - like an expense of $1000 candy at Macys.
(Kind you not, that was documented in a report on expense violations.) In fact,
managers most likely will get impacted also, unless they can show through documentation
that annual reviews on proper expense reimbursement practices were conducted
with staff. Hate to see people loose their jobs over a few $$$$. Can't say they
weren't warned. Internal auditors have been at work now for several years monitoring
this activity. Oh well, another day in the world of IBM. Glad to be Gone. Found
the grass to really be greener on the other side. -GladToBeGone-
Comment 11/16/12:
Lying on Time Reporting, when it affects utilization numbers,
directly impacts financial data and constitutes fraud per Sarbanes-Oxley. If
this occurring you should report it. -EX-IBMer-
Comment 11/15/12:
http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taa_search.cfm
Search on IBM, there are many of them. Interesting.
-Anonymous-
Comment 11/15/12:
nothing here: http://www.labor.ny.gov/app/warn/
-WARN-
Alliance reply: Remember, IBM plays games with the WARN notifications, like
firing just under the threshold etc.
Comment 11/15/12:
-Neal Watkins- refer to: http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taa_search.cfm
type in petiton# 81927 Ghost of Joan of Ark... -Anonymous-
Comment 11/15/12:
No severance, a check mark in the 'not eligible to be rehired'
box and immediate revoking of ur system access. I've seen consistent 1 performers
get fired this way. Somewhere in IBM there must be a very aggressive team researching
this; 3 employees just recently were ousted. -ibmblows-
Comment 11/15/12:
To: -Ibmblows-, You need to explain the "fraudulent
expense reports" issue. Why do you think IBMers are filing fraudulent expense
reports? Is IBM management telling employees that they should file false reports?
You need to elaborate. A union contract would never support fraud.. Alliance,
what do you say? -IBMerFraud?-
Alliance reply: Of course NO union contract would have protection for employees
that steal, start fights, commit fraud or any violation that is against IBM's
rules. Conversely, IBM doesn't have a union contract with employees, yet; so
all employees are considered "At Will" and not protected from firing
for ANY reason. Of course fraud
is not tolerated. But remember too, that a union contract gives the employee
due process in challenging the firing. A union would be able to determine the
truth and if the firing is justified.
Comment 11/15/12:
Re: "Ghost of Joan of Ark... -Anonymous-"
Is it just me? I don't understand this comment. -Neal Watkins-
Comment 11/15/12:
NoLongerBlue, wouldn't be at all surprised if there
are RA's at EOM. I figured they were holding off until after the election. I
just anticipated that they would restart them in January, 2013 to avoid the
obvious. Sadly, they'll do all they can to accomplish Roadkill 2015.
-Former IBM-
Comment 11/15/12:
I'm sorry. but this griping about expense reports is NOT an
issue for this board. The employee - YOU - are responsible for taking the education
on expense policies and submitting accurate expense reports. YOU are responsible
for double and triple checking your reports before you click submit. Why you
want a union to stand up for this one is beyond me. IBM has every right to take
disciplinary action on false expense reports. Look, I hate IBM. I'm glad I left,
but you won't convince me on this one. The employee has to take some responsibilities
on their own expense reports. Am I missing something? Don't disregard this post,
please educate me on why IBM firing people over a false expense report is an
issue the union can help with. -anonymous-
Comment 11/15/12:
finally updated the conclusion for certifying Pok large frame
L Pat.. including Manpower folks... Ghost of Joan of Ark... -Anonymous-
Comment 11/15/12:
Checking in with former IBM colleagues and received confirmation
re: Thanksgiving RAs. Hitting consultant-level (80%), mid-management (10%);
upper management RRA (Resource reassignment Action) remaining 10%. Guestimated
number for US locations - 10 - 15,000, depending on the RRA acceptance rate.
Was RAd back in March and couldn't be happier - sold stock while it was high,
fortunate to have more robust RA package. For those who plan to stay with Ginny's
Blue Machine - unionize, or get your resumes updated. Best of luck to everyone.
-NoLongerBlue-
Alliance reply: If these job cuts do happen, we need everyone to send us information
and RA packs to
ibmunionalliance@gmail.com.
IBM doesn't inform the media or our communities, the Alliance does.
Comment 11/14/12:
ibmblows: Sounds like
another way IBM management does a "drive by" firing or pruning without
an RA. IBM management basically tells everyone to lie on their ILC or TOTALS
labor reporting. So now they are getting petty on expense accounts? Do you get
severance or are fired with cause? -anonymous-
Comment 11/14/12:
Excellent article. IBM is not fooling anyone, for much longer especially
its investors.
Top-10-reasons-why-ginni-rometty-will-fail-ibm
-GinnyAndTonics-
Comment 11/14/12:
I just had to comment to Job Tu India...Putting Jack Kevorkian in charge
of a senior center...I'm laughing!!! Funny -CanOnlyLaugh-
Comment 11/14/12:
This "article" is hogwash on so many levels. Mr Lenzner
doesn't have the facts right and is shamelessly pandering, for an interview
perhaps? Putting Sam in charge of anything affecting American workers is like
putting Jack Kevorkian in charge of a senior center. Sam only cares about his
ego and his wallet, nothing more. obama-should-hire-ibms-palmisano-to-mentor-economic-reform
-Job Tu India-
Comment 11/13/12:
Lots of 'emergency' firings due to fraudulent expense reports.
If you get an invitation to a one-one meeting with your Director..be afraid!!
You'll have no recourse either, no 'here's my side' to the story. You're out
the door that day. Join the Union and get a voice. -Ibmblows-
Comment 11/13/12:
I work for a big contract US based. My team was also asked,
and then a "friendly reminder" to complete our PBC by the 16th. I
do not recall ever being asked this early prior to y/e. Bring it on Big Blew.
Let me go already...sick of this chit every time around the holidays. We are
supposed to be enjoying this time with our family as year-end closes and we
look back and enjoy all of the benefits of the hard work all year. I guess this
is a thing of the past, huh? The dismal roadmap to 2015 will never be achieved.
They need to bring in some new TOP management to fix this mess created by greed.
Can't last too much longer. The bottom will fall out. Who will the first lines
manage if they continue cutting US folks. I personally don't need a manager.
He does nothing for me. I manage myself. Do they exist just to ask us to complete
PBC's and all of the CYA garbage we are asked to "sign"...?
-RottenInDenmark-
Comment 11/12/12:
Some one sees the future.
10-reasons-why-ginni-rometty-will-fail-ibm -Anonymous-
Comment 11/10/12:
Avantor also called IBM's consultants "incompetent and
inexperienced". What did Avantor think? That you could find experienced
SAP programmers for $30k a year? I get paid weakly, very weakly.
-toldyaso-
Comment 11/10/12:
Nova Scotia outsourcing to IBM. IBM pays their SAP workers $30,000
a year in Dubuque, Iowa. I bet the that's much less than than Nova Scotia's
govt was paying. The support will be horrible. IBM Dubuque basically hires people
off the street with little to no experience in anything and expects the subject
matter experts to get them up to speed. Customer suffers, but they signed the
contract with IBM so now they are stuck for now. -lowballed-
Comment 11/10/12:
This looks like a new norm
IBM-sued-for-fraud-breach-of-contract-by-chemicals-co-Avantor
-Anon-
Comment 11/10/12:
Something to support the rumor of an RA around 11/30... my manager
told his team to have their PBC input in no later than 11/16. Per history for
PBCs, I expect ratings have already been decided, but our input is needed to
finalize the PBC process. Then the PBC results can be used to support the RA.
What is interesting about this other than the early timing (before this I was
never asked for my PBC input before January), my manager made a point of telling
his team we will be evaluated mainly on our attainment of our annual sales targets...
with the last seven weeks of the year still to go, and those are typically the
biggest of the year, revenue-wise. I expect many people being evaluated will
be far short of their revenue targets at this point in the year--as I am--easier
to justify a low rating. Will be interesting to see if my big November-December
pipeline of business enters into the discussion. -Anonymous-
Comment 11/09/12:
I can sense a turkey shoot upcoming: RA around Thanksgiving.
-ready2scoot-
Comment 11/09/12:
IBM just announced that Canada's first and only Global Delivery
Facility will open in Halifax, Nove Scotia. Wonder how soon before the present
IBM employees spread across country are asked to move or lose jobs?
-cdn ibmer-
Comment 11/09/12:
Nova Scotia government workers being outsourced to IBM. US jobs
lost too.
Breaking-news-sap-announcement-will-be-made-tomorrow
-member-
Comment 11/08/12:
which IBM locations have contractors been getting the boot?
-anonymous-
Comment 11/08/12:
Boulder Colorado, I was let go, layoff. All contractors in department
told to take 8 furlough days over coming weeks. -anonymous-
Comment 11/07/12:
Contractor got the notice for my last day today.
-anonymous-
Comment 11/07/12:
http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taa_search.cfm
type in petiton#
81927
Just been informed were certified.... system will
update next few days... prefer to stay a ghost.. did it for me and fellow employees
that had our jobs sent to Singapore.... -Anonymous-
Comment 11/07/12:
Why are Lenovo employees, many of whom are IBM retirees, identified
as IBM employees? www.ibm.com/contact/employees/us/
- - -
Comment 11/07/12:
Well Jenny's job may have gotten a little harder as business
does not see any regulatory relief in sight and will likely stay the course
on investment waiting to see what the new (old) administration brings.
-$20in15 Roadmap Roadkill-
Comment 11/05/12:
I'm a subk, was released on 10/31. Don't have any info on numbers,
just that my contract firm said there was a "big" cut in contractors.
Doesn't make me feel any better knowing I'm in a large crowd versus small.
-Anonymous-
Comment 11/04/12:
Why-is-the-us-importing-350000-foreign-tech-workers-this-year?
-dun-4-
Comment 11/03/12:
Please let the Alliance know if you have any information on
the number of contractors terminated. This information can be used to gauge
any upcoming RA. Usually if a lot of contractors are terminated then more employees
usually are going to be RAed. -IBMUnionYES-
Comment 11/02/12:
Apocalypse Rider is probably right on. If folks in NJ and NY
can't vote due to the disaster the election can swing in total favor of big
business unfairly. So much for real democracy. So dump the experienced workers
(employees and contractors) and hire newbies at super lower salaries/hourly
rates and feed the IBM Blue Pig machine. What a pathetic USA we have now ruled
as a corpocracy. -apocalypse_now-
Comment 11/02/12:
The charade is being perpetuated everywhere...
http://www.zdnet.com/au/there-is-no-it-skills-shortage-in-australia-commbank-cio-7000006644/
-last-man-standing-
Comment 11/02/12:
@HowManyThisTime? I heard from someone in HR that they're preparing
for a huge RA on Nov. 30, but I have no other details. Good luck.
-Ex-IBMer-
Comment 11/01/12:
I was layed off yesterday. I believe a bunch of contractors
were also layed off. -anonymous-
Comment 11/01/12:
sub-K: Which site are you from or work out of?
-anonymous-
Comment 11/01/12:
I attended a party with some very senior finance people here
in RTP tonight. The EOY 2012 US full-time employee US headcount will come in
at 84,500. They are considering going down even further if it turns out there
are federal tax incentives to hire in 2013. Dump in 2012, then get an incentive
to hire back or new hire in 2013 at lower pay. These guys have no morals, they're
only focused on bean counting and executive bonuses. -Apocalypse
Rider- Comment
10/31/12:
"IBM Management] approved an additional $5 billion
of funds to be spent on share buybacks, on top of the $6.7 billion that remained
for share repurchases at the end of September. The company said it will ask
for more buyback funds at its April 2013 board meeting."
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2012/10/31/ibm-sets-additional-5b-in-buybacks-upside-limited-says-wells/
Yet, at the same time, IBM is shrinking because Management refuses
to invest the funds that are needed to grow the business, and continues mass
firings to reduce expenses! -Management Pigs at the Trough-
Comment 10/31/12:
I'm a sub-K, or rather was, today is my last day. Was told Monday.
IBM Manager was totally unaware, cuts came from above, CDI manager told me there
were "many, many". I'm assuming they targeted those of us whose contracts
were coming up for renewal. -Anonymous-
Comment 10/29/12:
"It's been way too quiet at work lately... makes me
nervous." I hope you are an Alliance member. Alliance members use
whatever nervousness they might have into energy to fight any upcoming resource
actions in any way they can. Being nervous and not taking any action is not
healthy anyhow. -AllianceMember-
Comment 10/29/12:
-impending-, are you an Alliance member? If not, are
you actively seeking a new job? Without a union, there's ALWAYS going to be
resource actions in IBM due to offshored jobs. A union isn't a guarantee of
stopping them. But a lack of a union guarantees business as usual. And the only
possible chance for a union is to support the Alliance. If you're not doing
that, then you'd better be looking for another job. -iiRational-
Comment 10/29/12:
This article 'pulls back the curtain' and reveals that all of
IBM's Earnings per Share (EPS) growth is due to stock buybacks and cost cutting,
i.e. firing the employees that are IBM's most valuable asset. IBM IS NOT GROWING
- In fact; IBM is shrinking due to the incompetent stewardship and greed of
IBM Senior Management. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-real-growth-of-corporate-america-2012-10-23
If you are holding a large stake of IBM stock - NOW IS THE TIME
TO GET OUT! Don't say you weren't warned. -Smoke and Mirrors-
Comment 10/27/12:
Does anyone know about any resource action plans taking place
in November? It's been way too quiet at work lately... makes me nervous.
-impending-
Comment 10/26/12:
Subcontractor cuts occurring today. I've heard of 2 contractors
let go in GTS-SD already; today is their last day. This was a directive from
the executives above. -new voting member-
Comment 10/24/12:
With the recent 10% drop in the price of IBM stock, it is time
for IBM Management to admit that its "2015 Road Map" has been an abject
failure. The stark reality is that IBM revenue is not going to grow - not when
IBM continues to routinely cheat its top sales people out of their rightfully
earned commissions. The 2015 Road Map has turned out to be one of the biggest
'pump and dump' schemes in the history of U.S. stock markets. The SEC should
be investigating IBM business practices, if it is not doing so already, and
handing down indictments of the IBM Senior Managers who have personally profited
from this scheme. -Ginni Madoff-
Comment 10/24/12:
@Rose-- you are correct, I left IBM for a 20% pay increase. Prepare
yourselves for another round of brow bashing and ultimately layoffs. You can
make a plan for your future by taking control or you can fail to plan and end
up losing the little you have. Organize and Unionize. -Greener-Grass-
Comment 10/23/12:
I was part of the March GTS action, blessing in disguise, got
my sev package, got paid summer off where I utilized time to brush up on skills,
and learn job searching, took six months to get onto a year long contract, BUT,
I have work for a year, at IBM it was month to month and IBM never lets you
know if you will be next. Second thing, on contract I work 40 hours a week for
set rate, not "this is your salary, but we expect 50 hours and we "really"
expect 60 and unless you work 70, then that 2 you worked for and were told you
were on track to get, when it came time to be reviewed foind out that the 2nd
and 3rd line managers told the first lines to subtract one from everyone's PBC,
just to meet numbers. There is life after IBM, you may need to work at it, but
you have skills and they are valued (not by IBM) but others do, when you go
to the next job you WILL find your organizational and product skills are a lot
more valuable than IBM leads you to believe. And no, IBM is no longer paying
better than the outside market, in fact outside pays better, especially with
contract. -George Lennon-
Comment 10/23/12:
Why you need to join and vote for a contract NOW.....
http://www.cringely.com/2012/10/15/so-sue-us-why-big-companies-like-ibm-arent-afraid-of-h-1b-lawsuits/
-Anonymous-
Comment 10/22/12:
Folks. Its time to apply the much vaunted IBM intellect. Blocking
the trucks from hauling off the equipment once a plant has closed is not a winning
strategy. Organizing BEFORE the plant is closed, is! Reading this board looking
for ideas of what to do after being RA'd is a losing strategy also. Organizing
NOW is a winning strategy. Blaming others when you have had an organization
trying to help you organize since 1999 is definitely not winning anything. Those
that are hanging on to retire with your FHA. The best coverage available for
u, your spouse and 2 dependents will only cost you $4000.00 per month. How long
will that great retirement medical last you at that price? A union contract
can provide for much more affordable medical for retirees and working members.
If you are retirement eligible and still working you should be leading the charge
to organize. IBM sure as hell will not look out for your golden years. Better
look out for yourself. -Exodus2007-
Comment 10/22/12:
I am "command and control" for GDF client. Means I
oversee the global (India) resources doing the day to day work. Mgnt wants local
resource for that in case customer wants to interface. DPEs also use C&C
as single point of contact and scapegoat for when global resources mess up -Command
and Control-
Comment 10/22/12:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/22/ibm_cut_contractor_rates/
IBM slices UK GTS contractor rates. IT contractors working
for IBM Global Technology Services (GTS) in the UK are being hit with a 10 per
cent rate cut from this week.
-Anon-
Comment 10/20/12:
Command and control in the GDF model is 3rd level support. Level
1 is help desk, level 2 is steady state and level 3 = C&C. Now if there
is something outside of the GDF that C&C stands for I have no idea.
-misha-
Comment 10/20/12:
Strong rumor that the Transition out program will be offered
again in November. Anyone else hearing that? -HowManyThisTime?-
Comment 10/20/12:
The slaves should revolt. SSR's are leaving to go work for competitors
and nearly double their salary. Client facing positions are more lucrative in
other companies as well. How can IBM continue to grossly underpay their employees?
-Rose-
Comment 10/19/12:
what is "command and control" that must agree to relocate
-RA'd2012-
Alliance reply: Managers that have command over a function ( business decision
maker), and management that control a function, ( develop standard processes,
monitor operations).
Not to be confused with IBM's command and control centers, which provides a
single, scalable graphical user interface to help you integrate, manage and
maintain all your existing physical security systems and assets.
Comment 10/19/12:
What is "command and control"?? What areas do they
manage. -inquiringmindwantstoknow-
Comment 10/19/12:
IBM Management "command and control"??? Who are these
types? IBM has so many new layers of management it is a joke how many levels
I am below Ginni CEO now. More so now than when I started in IBM in the 1980's.
I guess the RAs now hit bloated excess management hard since their are no more
employees to cut? -Anonymous-
Comment 10/19/12:
Another quarterly report...Revenue down, profit up. IBM is in
ketosis.... -gadfly-
Comment 10/18/12:
@anonymous2015, IBM doesn't care about the employees, it is
as simple as that. It does not cost IBM a dime to fire 1 person in the the US
that costs $60K a year and be able hire 5 people over seas to replace that ONE
PERSON AND STILL SAVE THOUSANDS OF US DOLLARS in benefits and taxes. Your only
hope is to band together with a Union and stand up to the 10 thousand pound
gorilla. I am a former IBMer whom decided to leave before the slaughter. The
bottom line is, not you. So stand up and fight if you believe in yourself over
the bottom line which is the almighty dollar for now. best wishes.
-Just-A-Number-
Comment 10/18/12:
With the IBM stock price in freefall Big Blow has to go all
out in 4th QTR otherwise their Roadmap is leading to a big dead end. Expect
more RAs to try to recoup 3rd QTR revenue loss imperiling 4th QTR potential.
I would organize/unionize to protect yourselves NOW. Otherwise you might just
get nothing (no severance, etc.) on the next RA-go-round. Look what happened
to Google today..IBM that far behind?!? -ouija-
Comment 10/18/12:
IBM Management "command and control" must agree to
relocate to Dublin or Singapore by 10/31/2012, or look for a new job. Got this
from my old boss who said no to Dublin. -Anonymous-
Comment 10/17/12:
Stock down 10 points today, guess that outsourcing thing didn't
work out after all, Ginny. Glad I dumped IBM (at a cost to them of $250k/yr)
and went to work for their customer. -clay-
Comment 10/17/12:
When will Big Blew understand the simple fact that you can't
cost cut your way to prosperity. More job cut RAs will not work. They never
really have. No revenue growth means no earnings and sustainable biz. Anyone
can turn a profit by saving with cost cuts. Once IBM fails to turn a profit
then the Armonk glasshouse will finally cave in without any rocks being thrown
at it. -anonymous2015-
Comment 10/13/12:
AMD miss and 20-30% layoff rumors
Exclusive-amd-to-cut-up-to-30-percent-of-workforce
-##ex-IBMer##-
Comment 10/09/12:
With Retail Services Division that handles Point of Sale going
to Toshiba in a few years,with minimal personnel transferring to Toshiba, Enterprise
Services Division has plenty of rumors flying. Pay cuts next year, layoffs and
something late next year referencing personnel which have over 30 years of service
forced to retire. IBM has to reduce costs of maintenance on larger Z mainframe
products and therefore have to reduce headcount in ESD to 50% of current levels
by 1/1/2014. -anonymous-
Comment 10/08/12:
GM Hiring 10,000 Information Technology workers.
GM-now-hiring-10000-information-technology-workers
-Jaggua-
Comment 10/02/12:
"Executive Management shouldn't be receiving these
outlandish compensation packages!!!" Sure, but they have something
you folks do not have, or fight to have. Something called a signed piece of
paper called a CONTRACT. Executive Management has precommitted awards they set
themselves to easily reach. What do you have?? No raise. No bonus. Maybe no
job. The IBM executives protect themselves and IBMers do not even flock or herd
to protect themselves which they can easily do with a union contract.-anonymous-
Comment 10/02/12:
-Oatmeal-: The target I care about is how many members the Alliance
can garner. Otherwise, it doesn't matter what the IBM stock price will get to.
Maybe folks will heed your message of unadulterated market IBM greed and join
the Alliance. It's the only way to do something to save jobs and maybe even
IBM's very existence. -IBMUnionYES-
Comment 10/02/12:
Just heard from several members of the IBM software sales team
on the security team that they have been given minimal separation agreements.
The cuts just keep coming, slowly apparently. Also another colleague shared
that his daughter was just let go in marketing. -Screwedby IBM-
Comment 10/02/12:
Contractor layoff this Friday -MemyselfandI-
Alliance Reply: Got details?
Comment 10/01/12:
Well, IBM stock reached over $210 today. What is the target?
How many more will lose their jobs along the way? Please keep the information
flowing and the membership growing. -Oatmeal-
Comment 09/30/12:
Big Surprise -- Lavish CEO pay doesn't work as intended:
Lavish-ceo-pay-doesnt-work-as-intended-study
-Alliance Member-
Comment 09/26/12:
I'm no longer with IBM but in touch with my former team members.
My former team is getting wiped. This happened this week! -former
IBMer-
Comment 09/24/12:
Something those with common sense have known all along --Executive
Management shouldn't be receiving these outlandish compensation packages!!!
IBM Management compensation is not returning "shareholder value" that's
even close to the obscene pay they are receiving. How about IBM Management doing
their part to meet the Roadkill 2015 goals by eliminating bonuses and stock
options for everyone Director level and above?? It's not like they're going
to leave IBM! Most of them have only gotten into their positions through many
years of accumulating a brown malodorous substance on the ends of their noses.
As the study described in this article clearly shows, the reality of the situation
is that they're not going to be able to earn more, or even the same money by
going to another company.
CEOs-and-the-pay-em-or-lose-em-myth-fair-game -Cut Executive Pay Now!-
Comment 09/24/12:
In case you're wondering what it means to get "Tuped",
TUPE is an acronym for the UK counterpart of the toothless US WARN Act, which
IBM Management regularly circumvents, but TUPE provides much more comprehensive
worker protections: Transfer_of_Undertakings_(Protection_of_Employment)_Regulations_2006
-Alliance Member-
Comment 09/24/12:
UK local IBM ITD Deskside Support getting outsourced /Tuped
-Jim-
Comment 09/24/12:
just a heads up. There is an ALL Manager day long Meeting Today
in Fishkill. Looks like yet another round of layoffs are very near in the future.
-Fishkool-
Comment 09/23/12:
I would imagine they would just leave the site all together.
They have already moved lots to Columbia, MO. Like VMware support, server builds.
They only signed a 5 year lease in Dubuque with an option for 5 more. The option
for 5 more has not been signed as of yet and the site has lost money every year.
Doubt they stick around to lose more money. -reckless-
Comment 09/20/12:
Interesting article that is to appear in next month's Fortune
magazine on Genny Rometty and IBM. Several references to 2015. Check out the
fifteenth paragraph for sugar coated Roadkill message. Powerful-women-rometty-ibm
-$20in15 Roadmap Roadkill-
Comment 09/20/12:
Rumor has it France has announced the same thing the UK did
a couple of years ago - where employees that are retirement -eligible, are given
2 options: (1) retire now with your existing pension plan OR (2) stay at IBM
and go on the new retirement plan - losing significant retirement $s. Anyone
know if this is true? It sounds like a cheap way to cut older, higher-payed
employees. -Worried-
Comment 09/19/12:
What's the reasoning behind the potential abandonment of Dubuque?
Can't staff it with skill? Site costs too much? Honeymoon is over and Iowa is
jacking up the tax rate on IBM? -anonymous-
Comment 09/18/12:
To -reckless-: Does this mean the entire site will
be shutdown, or just parts of the operation? Do you have a timeframe for this
to occur? -Dun-4-
Comment 09/17/12:
Hear the same re: Debuque. Storage team and TSM recently offshored.
Lots of PMs left. -DebuqueRumblings-
Comment 09/15/12:
Heard through a very credible source that IBM Dubuque is not
going to be there too much longer. Hope you have your resume in tip top shape.
-reckless-
Comment 09/14/12:
I heard 2nd hand that some RA's may be occurring soon. Per the
rumor, at least one of them was in RTP. Not sure of the quality of this information.
Anyone else hear anything? -new voting member-
Comment 09/14/12:
"Two of the mission-critical teams inside of "--Yada,
Yada, Yada!!! What exactly does this mean for these poor people who did not
organize and join the alliance? Does this imply they will all lose their jobs?
-Curious-
Comment 09/12/12:
Quit yer bitchin!! I thought this site was to report resource
actions, not bitch about the company. Complaining gets you nowhere. If you all
join Alliance and organize you just might make a difference. Pounding on the
keyboard does nothing to help any of you. Get moving! -Gone_in_07-
Comment 09/09/12:
Always knew the PBC was a stupid ill meaning Gerstner idea and
process masquerading as an appraisal process. IBM should rename the PBC to RAC
(Resource Action Commitment) if Randy's HR had any honest sense. -anonymous-
Comment 09/07/12:
PBC is decided long before it is due. It has nothing to do with
your performance. They just need to fill up the pool for each rating.
-PBCisJoke-
Comment 09/05/12:
Been chatting with friend who moved onto WebSphere 2nd level
support; basicaly they have to inform manager at what times the go to restroom,
are forced to show up in office even though all work is offsite. Senior people
who are biding their time refuse to take new PMR's a week before they go on
vacation. -Anonymous-
Comment 09/05/12:
@2015dust-- very true remarks. Other reasons for streamlining
a company is when they plan on selling off parts of it. I would not expect good
things to come from a sale either. The cheaper the operating costs, the more
attractive the purchase. -Skeleton-Crew-
Comment 09/03/12:
-contracted- You forget another thing. No severance
pay for terminated contractors. -anonymous-
Comment 09/03/12:
More middle management ranks and expanding layers is a sign
of a company in trouble. A possible sign of a dying company. A company trying
to throw more supposedly important to the biz bodies to fix a dire situation.
You need to unionize to protect what you presently have and stop RAs before
it is too late to save IBM. Management can't save it for you, especially middle
management on up. The middle managers, IBM director and up, want to pad their
pockets in salary increases, bonuses, and qualify for SERPs and "top hat
plans" so if the company goes under they make off with their booty. The
rest of the assets are divided up in bankruptcy court. Guess where that puts
all the 2nd line managers, 1st line managers, and employees? On the street,
pounding them. With no job, severance, no stock value for IBM in their portfolios
and a pension (if they are lucky to get one) administered by the PBGC for pennies
on the dollar. -2015dust-
Comment 09/03/12:
Not sure if I am a key resource, but I know that I have to find
my own backup from other teams, this time from another country (UK), I'm no
longer worried about getting RA'd. I WANT to get RA'd at this point as I have
been seriously looking for something outside of IBM for 6 months. If I leave,
at least one project will completely fail. I've been reporting to a manager
in India (I'm a US employee) since Q1 of this year. I figure my career was over
the instant they assigned me a manager in India. They did stick someone in as
my US manager in Blue Pages, in name only since IBM seems to be violating their
own rules in assigning me a manager from another country. -IndiaBusinessMachines-
Comment 09/02/12:
IBM Contractors are just paid slaves in IBM. Nothing more. And
most of ya think that once you are RAed you can easily come back to IBM as a
contractor at higher pay.
THINK TWICE
Contractor = IBM pays you on the cheap.
Contractor = you can get an unexpected pay cut (hourly rate reduced).
Contractor = you got less than 0% shot of being rehired in IBM (if you wanted
to).
Contractor = no sick pay.
Contractor = no paid holidays.
Contractor = no paid time off for anything.
Contractor = no OT (generally).
Contractor = unexpected furloughs mandated by IBM. You don't even get unemployment
benefits for the furlough even though you are not working.
Contractor = no matching 401(k) contributions (generally).
Contractor = expensive, if any, health insurance.
Contractor = first to go at IBM's whim so the execs can make their quarterly
numbers and secure their bonuses and stock options.
Contractor = no retirement.
Contractor == IBM plays you like a fool.
So go ahead, enjoy your inevitable RA, become an IBM contractor, become a widget,
and enjoy yourself without a union contract. -contracted-
Comment 09/02/12:
anon1234 as a retired 2nd line you are somewhat correct. Each
1st line does their own ranking and brings it in to the project mgr. Then the
negotiations start between the 2nd line and the 1st lines. The 1's and 3's are
traded based on contribution or brown nose-rs.At that point all of the PBC's
are defined. Everyone refuses to believe there is a better performer then you.
Life is not that simple. -benthere-
Comment 08/31/12:
2 factors in how/why folks get RA: Over all 'ranking' in 2nd
line. Bottom 1/3 is dangerous. Bottom 5% is gone any day now. The other factor
is 'are you a key resource? Some managers are more forth coming about where
an employee is. Ask questions, and listen to the answers (don't
wait for PBC feedback) FYI....At least in my area, PBC ratings are known to
managers BEFORE PBCs are formally submitted. -Anon1234-
Comment 08/31/12:
Looks like they ran the numbers already for 3rd Quarter and
they need more blood out of us stones. Contractors were told today that they
have to take yet 5 more days off with no pay between now and Sept 14. There
are only 9 business days between now and then. And that's assuming you've already
taken the initial five days and are caught up. If not, I guess you won't be
logging on for awhile. And don't forget - you also can't take off unless you've
made sure you've arranged for coverage for your work! -Looks Like
I'll Be Eating Ramen Noodles Daily-
Comment 08/30/12:
Another paycut, non exempt employees were told they can work
zero overtime until at least the end of September -John-
Comment 08/30/12:
I'm mailing in my membership form and check today. I can't go
into details on my specific circumstances, but they're simply beyond belief.
I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to tolerate this place. It very well
could be too late for me, but maybe not too late for others. members++
-dazed and confused-
Comment 08/30/12:
Job categories and rankings are changed to protect chronies.
First lines, project managers and junior engineers suddenly become directors.
Directors suddenly become vice-presidents. Liberal arts educated professionals
suddenly become directors and senior engineers. Rankings change with job classification.
-.-
Comment 08/30/12:
Re: NobodyImportant I have to agree. First lines are
definitely in the line of fire. Second lines, probably. From the RA in March,
I do for a fact MANY"older" first lines (at the least) were forced
to retire (not a true RA, but same difference). Glad I got out when I did. I
got tired of sliding down the ladder dodging RA bullets on the way. It's so
nice to now work for a company that has respect for YOU and what you do.
-anonymous-
Comment 08/28/12:
Heard from a reliable source that upper management will shake
up soon (RA's brewing). More work going to India, so why do they need so many
layers of management. First lines will be a thing of the past soon. Too many
American chiefs, not enough Indians (honk honk). I guess that old cliche' has
a double meaning in these dark times of IBM. It would make sense that First
and Second line Management should be in the trenches fighting with us. Think
about it...why would they need many US based managers?? -NobodyImportant-
Alliance reply: Even with all the RA's the past few years the number of executives
has been growing. Keep us posted on what you hear.
Comment 08/28/12:
Just saw that IBM bought the HR firm Kenexa for over a billion
three. So, expect to see IBM HR folks joining the ranks of the unemployed. I
find it amazing that IBM's HUGE HR group couldn't do the job. Of course, IBM
also "bought" all of Kenexa's customers. The only way it can grow
the business is through acquisitions. And STILL people won't join the Alliance.
All I can say is you IBMers who ignore the large print on the wall are dead
meat!!! -Anonymous-
Comment 08/27/12:
To the PBC-worrying crowd and RAs... Here's the deal. I am a
former manager, and yes, there are "skews" or "distributions"
and yes, they know exactly how many 1's, 2's and 3's are going to be handed
out. It's all based on budgets and resource planning. As for signing yuor PBC
or not, the reason it is not questioned has a basis in unfortunate reality.
The PBC is not a negotiation. You write what you want on record of what you
did. The manager assigns THEIR assessment of your performance. Whether or not
you agree to it is of no matter, and signing it only means you've seen it. It's
not a contract nor an agreement. Not signing is only a form of civil disobedience,
and has no bearing on anything. Their assessment of you stands, and is final
(unless you are one of the rare few who successfully appeal). And then, that
rating is one of the rationalizations they use for RAs. Heck, I was a 2+ and
was told days earlier that I ran one the most successful project our org did
in the previous year. I got a 2+ on Friday. On Monday, I was RAed. Gold rules.
They who have the gold make the rules. Sorry, but you need to do what I failed
to do. Get organized and do something about it, if there are enough of you left
to do something about it. -RAed Jan 09-
Comment 08/27/12:
Security Industry Services in Canada (under Fss) was told last
week that they would soon be leveraging global resources,and we all know what
that means... -The BoBo-
Comment 08/27/12:
HERE in the uk we find out on 31st if latest cost cutting of
getting rid of uk staff goes involuntary - as it stands haven't got a clue if
it will but i suppose nearly all of us techies will be gone by 2015
-bullyblues-
Comment 08/24/12:
RA'd; however, I had a transfer opportunity. My RA date was
extended 2x. The new IBM organization appeared before the board 2x to request
removal from list and transfer into their organization. Both times denied. What
happened to the "find a new position within 30 days.. ?" I had a new
position and was told that "...though you have a new position and they
want to transfer you to their organization, the board doesn't support that so...'good
luck.'" When asked for a basis for the decision, "...um we do not
have that information." Really? Didn't sign anything. Going to the battle
field. -Anonymous-
Comment 08/17/12:
To -Concerned- Don't you worry, those layoffs will
be coming back around to an office near you. You may not even get a severance,
because they don't have to give it to you. If you are really "concerned"
join Alliance and do something about it. -Gone_in_07-
Comment 08/16/12:
200 resource deployments in Australia
(hard-times-threaten-200-jobs-at-ibm-australia)-
if you work for a western country it is not good times. Keep cutting costs all
the time, how about trying something new - winning new business.
-Aussie-
Comment 08/16/12:
2 stories regarding PBCs...A manager in Almaden Research Center
told me that he could have 10 Nobel Physics Prise winners reporting to him...and
5 would be rated 3's. Another manager I know who did't want to rate any of his
employees a 3, SWAPPED a 1 rating and a 3 rating to another manager for two
2 ratings. Go figure.. -BAWILK-
Comment 08/16/12:
So much for the gratuitous old party line of not taxing "job
creators":
http://news.yahoo.com/report-taxpayers-subsidize-ceo-pay-040124133--abc-news-deals.html
-Organize IBM Now!-
Comment 08/16/12:
The next layoff will hit at the time and place and ammount of
people that IBM Management chooses and not one day earlier or later.
-Captain Obvious-
Comment 08/16/12:
Raises, No Raises, PBC ratings, Rankings, RA's Bonuses , No
bonuses. Occupy Wall Street, Democrat. Republican. Independent. All these things
are irrelevant if you organize, vote union yes and then occupy your union hall.
Failure on your part to do this means no matter how much all these things anger,
frustrate or motivate you, nothing will change and nothing will improve for
you. Maybe I should sign my name "Captain Obvious". -Exodus2007-
Comment 08/15/12:
Anyone know when the next layoffs will hit? Someone had information
earlier but nothing else has been posted on it. -Concerned-
Alliance reply: While you're waiting for an answer to be posted here, seriously
consider joining Alliance@IBM for a mere $10.00 per month. It will help us to
keep this web site on-line and it will help to build the organization with members
who want to stand up and work together for a union contract. Otherwise, you
may never get an answer until it's too late.
Comment 08/15/12:
Raises in India, no raises in USA. IBM making the street happy
but internal communications indicate that we are not meeting the expectations
of the business. What double-talk! Is there isn't such a thing as "global
workforce discrimination" then IBM should patent it. I'm not sure of the
percentage of US companies India supports but figure that the raise program
doesn't make this type of qualification. Absolutely, this is discrimination.
-Anonymous-
Comment 08/15/12:
To -PBC'ed_off-: Now you got it! Don't
waste your time filling out the pbc with gobs of information you think pertinent
to your work. I usually take the info that I wrote in last year's pbc, copy
it over word for word then change anything in there was was specific to a certain
task completed during the current year. NEVER...has any manager mentioned or
questioned why I wrote the same thing year after year. It never influenced my
appraisal or rating. I knew that the whole thing was bogus. It's meant to give
the employee a false sense of security. The employee thinks they have a sense
of input into their rating, and IBM continues to do exactly what they want.
Your PBC ranking was done months before you even filled out that pbc. How do
you think it has anything to do with how you are rated. My mgr even told me
that the rating is all about how many managers know who you are. You could be
diligently servicing an account saving the company $millions$ a year, or convincing
the customer to sign on for more work. If the other mgrs don't know who you
are, your rating suffers. It's all who you know, and not how well you perform
in this company that matters. If you can blow more smoke against the mirror
than your other co-workers you win! Sad but true. -dun-4-
Comment 08/15/12:
While IBM is cutting back on research sites here in the US,
they're opening a new research facility in Kenya. Here's the story from Reuters,
which was also a top link on Drudge on Monday:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/13/us-ibm-kenya-research-idUSBRE87C0MU20120813
-Anonymous-
Comment 08/14/12:
-raisetheroof-: I found some threads on a message board
that IBM was offering Band 7 at 15L ($27,000), Band 8 at 25L ($45,000) and Band
9 at 30L ($54,000). Don't know if that's cash or total package (Indian pay is
structured differently than in the US). Look up "r2iclub forums".
The world is getting flat. -Sauron-
Comment 08/14/12:
The current exchange rate of Dollars to Rupees is $1.00 USD
= 55.6578 Rupees.
Based on that, a job in IBM India paying 250,000 Rupees would equal $4491.73
USD. If that same Indian IBM employee received a 25% increase of $1122.93 USD
per year, that would be $5614.66 total year's salary. That's still peanuts for
IBM to pay for a job that was paying $70,000 USD or more to a US IBM employee,
no? To me, this is not much of a scratch in IBM's bottom line, AND it also rubs
salt into the wounds of US IBMers that are still working for IBM.
Whether IBM brings those jobs back or not; US IBMers need to seriously look
at the option of joining this union and fighting to win a contract with IBM.
IBM is in trouble because of their quality of work and responsibility issues
with their customers. US skilled IBMers could make those issues go away if they
would unite and demand that IBM provide their customers with the kind of service
and dependability that ALL their customers deserve. Offhoring for cost of labor
is becoming a tired and worn out strategy for IBM. They will continue to have
failures to meet their customers demands and contract obligations. Now is the
time to unionize IBM US. Get busy fighting for your job, or get busy losing
it. -raisetheroof-
Comment 08/14/12:
The pay raises in India for 100,000 people of 10-25% is BS if
you ask me. I think it's just propaganda by IBM to piss American employees off
to get them to quit. That's why there were no raises this year they want you
to quit. Save on no severance packages. -whatever-
Alliance reply: The better response would be to organize not quit. And for those
reading these comments and have not joined please do so. If we are going to
challenge IBM we need resources and dues paying members.
Comment 08/13/12:
"International Business Machines Corporation's (NYSE:IBM)
India division issued salary increases that were higher than anticipated this
year, when compared to the single digit rises at Indian information tech firms,
according to the Economic Times. Several workers at IBM reported that the increases
were between 10 and 25 percent, depending on seniority levels and the business
division involved." -Anonymous-
Comment 08/13/12:
-Once Again - In the UK when a company wants to lay
off more than 20 staff at a single location they have to go through a consultation
process. It can be a period where they try to get people to volunteer, but it
can also be a time when they specify the criteria for who will be fired. Salary
sacrifice is a scheme where you give up some salary to buy a benefit. If your
health insurance costs £100 a month, you reduce your salary by
£100 and get the benefit for 'free'. It saves you some and the
company money in taxes. I left IBM before "skip rates". I bet they
save IBM more money and cost the employee! -Ex-Slave-
Comment 08/13/12:
PBC raing in IBM is a joke. There are already amounts of how
many 123and 4s are given for each department by upper manager at the begin of
each PBC review session and h/r corporate controls the amount and the number
for each department. PBC ratings in IBM are all political, they have nothing
to do with work performance . IBM NEEDS A UNION TO STOP THIS CORRUPTION.
-EX IBM Manager-
Comment 08/13/12:
IBM India gives double digit pay hikes What are we at US getting
?? -Ramki-
Unlike-indian-it-ibm-india-gives-double-digit-pay-hikes
US workers - see IBM is investing in people. As long as your in india.
-RA'd2012-
IBM India hikes pay raises! Soon they will be paying India what
they were paying in the US... And then what? -Out in March- ibm-india-doles-out-salary-hikes-and-3-dow-movers-to-eye.
Comment 08/13/12:
Once Again, Consultation is a legally required process in the
UK when undertaking an RA: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/Redundancy/DG_10029835
-Ex-UKI-
Comment 08/13/12:
exIBMmgr: And no IBM manager or ex-manager
ever questioned this practice?
No HR discussion for an unsigned PBC? Then why bother with a signing process
in the first place? Then why should an employee even do their PBC say if you
know you are getting a PBC 3? Why waste your energy writing your accomplishments?
PBC is a stupid process for the employee and is used solely to belittle employees
and reward and anoint the select few. So what is IBM's APPRAISAL process? Guess
they have NONE. A union is needed since IBM does not have a process to evaluate
and appraise employees. So IBM can't manage it's own workforce then a union
is needed to do it for them. -PBC'ed_off-
Comment 08/11/12:
-PBC'ed_off-, Your manager's PBC rating
is not influenced by how many employees sign their PBC. In reality, not signing
it meant that I simply signed it for you as "employee refused to sign PBC"
and the 2nd line clicked "Approve" in the pbc tool. No HR discussion
needed -exIBMmgr-
Comment 08/11/12:
Maybe if IBM sells Global Services the new company can have
a unionized workforce. Rumors are that IBM is going to sell it.
-samtheman-
Comment 08/10/12:
To UKI, please explain a bit better; example, define what a
consultation process is, what is a skip rate salary sacrifice, etc. We in the
US are interested in what is happening everywhere in IBM, but need you to explain
to make it clear. -Once Again-
Comment 08/10/12:
It is with Mixed emotions,..., okay, enough of the drama. I
gave my two week notice today to IBM. I am not happy about it, but I feel an
excitement about the new opportunity I have in two weeks. So, a bit nervous
and anxious. My pay outside IBM is going to increase 20% above what I am making
now (Yup, there is life outside the big blue company). I guess the "no
raises" this year was the final push on my butt out the door. To all of
you Alliance Members, I hope you get this Union off the ground.
-Just-A-Number-
Comment 08/10/12:
An article about how force ranking creates an ever lowering
of employee performance and team work. http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/08/04/2243672/evaluating-employees-with-forced.html#storylink=misearch
Many in IBM know the effects of this type of evaluation system. The only way
to resolve it is to get a contract that clearly states how employees will be
evaluated as to performance. -Anonymous retiree-
Comment 08/10/12:
-BRICem- Customers are far more worried about keeping
their own jobs and benefits. They couldn't care less about IBM employees' jobs.
I HOPED that when IBMers lost pensions and benefits in 1999 it would serve as
a wake up call that a union was needed. I ALSO hoped that as more things were
taken away and more and more people were fired for the sake of profit, that
one day IBMers themselves, would say enough and organize a union to demand collective
bargaining to have a say in their own lives. I have been disappointed so far
for 12 years and I do not see the abuse slowing down at all. IBM has been sued
over failing to meet contract obligations and it has not changed their business
practices one bit. If IBM's competition brings jobs back onshore for real and
not just a token effort, and begins to SUCCESSFULLY market it as a reason to
go with them, then IBM MAY choose to follow suit. More than likely IBM will
have an ad campaign showing how they have the best and brightest from ALL OVER
THE WORLD working on your problems and offshore even more jobs. No one else
is going to save your job if you won't take action to save it. The only people
I have ever seen stand up for workers in another company are UNION workers standing
in solidarity with brother and sister union workers. -Exodus2007-
Comment 08/10/12:
WHERE'S OUR MONEY RANDY? Received letter from Oxford about the
refund three weeks ago. Silence from IBM! Health-insurance-refunds-may-stall-in-employers-hands.html
It was the great health insurance giveback: $1.1 billion in
premiums returned to policyholders under the Affordable Care Act. But while
many people who buy their own insurance found a check in the mail last week,
millions insured through employers are still wondering what is happening with
the money.
Workers were notified in form letters from insurers this month
that "rebate" had been sent to their employer, who "must follow
certain rules in distributing the rebate to you." But even when employees
paid a significant share of the premium, many employers are still deciding how,
when or even whether to share the cash. -Anon-
Comment 08/09/12:
@-Exodus2007- ... I would think customers would ALSO
care about the quality delivered in the services contracted for. I would HOPE
that when they don't get that quality, they'd let IBM know about it, and demand
a higher standard of product, which could only be produced on shore -BRICem-
Comment 08/09/12:
To PBC'ed Off - as a former manager at IBM, whether or not you
sign your PBC is of no matter. 100% PBCs done on time is purely for the manager
to do. An employee does not have to sign it for it to be completed. You disagree?
Don't sign. Does not mean a thing. It still goes into the system, recorded,
and completed. It's an act of civil disobedience if you don't, but frankly,
no one ever looks or cares. -RAed Jan 09-
Comment 08/09/12:
To Chopped: "Why
would customers care as long as the services contracted for are provided?"
I'm an ex-IBMer who worked for 10 years on a State of California contract and
who is now working on the customer side of that contract. I can tell you that
the customer is CLUELESS about IBM and its employment practices, and is under
the impression that IBM is doing its best to milk the state for every possible
penny. Even many of the IBM sub-contractors are not aware of the bad treatment
of IBM employees. I think that you might find more outrage from customers if
they knew what was going on and how it affects service levels. This is especially
true in Public Sector contracts where the employees are unionized and are sensitive
to worker's rights. The best thing to do is spread the word; the next best thing
is to leave IBM and contribute to the brain drain that will assure that Big
Blue wins the race to the bottom. -bzboy-
Comment 08/09/12:
UK Consultation period of 30 days started 1 Aug. 30 Days means less than
100 employees, however there are separate consultation processes happening across
almost all BU. So it is much bigger than may be disclosed. Meanwhile bonuses
still not being awarded - 25% skip rate salary sacrifice continues and pay freeze
again. If IBM makes 2015 there will be nothing left of value to do business
with. -UKI-
Comment 08/09/12:
Hi PBC'ed_off, I did not signed my PBC due to low rating and
my manager still submit it without my signature, I took it up with HR and had
it reverse.. So not signing it does not stop them from submitting your PBC.
-Anon-
Comment 08/08/12:
-FHA'ed- I retired with 30 years. just turned 55 in
May, redesigned webpage shows 0.00 on front but if I dig in deeper it shows
correct ammount. It amazed me that the required information links didn't work
or the 4 minute video. Anything else broke is no surprise. IBM probaably designed
the webpage so things working correctly are of little importance as long as
it looks good -the beatings will continue-
Comment 08/08/12:
-Chopped- Why would customers care
as long as the services contracted for are provided? They are running a business
also and are using IBM to make their profits better. As long as they get what
they pay for in their contract they dont care how IBM does it. See, they have
a contract. Its us, the employees who do the work that are not protected by
a contract. Our bad! -Exodus2007-
Comment 08/08/12:
They Really Do Want To Implant Microchips Into Your Brain
- This article mentions IBM as one of the corporations that are developing this
technology. Here's the article: http://bit.ly/QEveZx
-Li RM35M4419-Chip-
Comment 08/08/12:
Once again, contractors are being told that they need to take
time off without pay so that the executives can earn their well-deserved bonuses
for their hard work.
As in the past, the furlough is for five days. However, the date for completion
is mid-September instead of the end of the quarter. That signals to me that
they'll be running the numbers and if they do not look good, they've left themselves
two weeks to demand more furlough.
They did the same thing last year in 4Q - what started out as 5 days went to
7 days by early Dec then increased to 8 days a week later. Contractors were
also reminded that Labor Day which they do not get paid for does not count as
one of their five days. -Knew It Was Coming-
Comment 08/07/12:
-The beatings will continue-: Are you still in IBM?
If not, and were not at least 55 years old AND (not OR) had at least 15 years
of IBM employment then sadly, yes, your FHA amounts to nada, zilch, zero, nothing.
Many hundreds, thousands that have been RAed found this information out the
hard way by not listening to the Alliance and working towards getting a contract
with real retirement health benefits in writing.
And, sadly, many more yet to be RAed will find out they have no FHA too since
IBM never will make it clear and remind those what IBM's criteria is to qualify
for the FHA to enlighten these poor naive folks. And the FHA can be pulled and
rescinded, terminated at any time by IBM even for those that might have just
started using their notional accounts. -FHA'ed-
Comment 08/07/12:
-Glad2BGone09- You might not get RA package if you
don't sign your PBC. Your manager insists you sign the PBC since it is in his/her
PBC for 100% PBC's done and approved "on time". If your manager doesn't
get 100% then they probably get a lower PBC. -PBC'ed_off-
Comment 08/07/12:
@-IBMAustin-: The way it has worked in recent years
is that a building that is occupied is carried on the division's books. An empty
building is carried on Corporate's books. Therefore it is incumbent for a division
to consolidate as much as possible to save carrying costs. The Somers HQ facility,
of the four buildings there, one was closed a year ago, another is in the process
of being closed. Research (Watson) is closing the Hawthorne facility and had
the gall to ask for and get a tax break from the town and NY State for bringing
400 "new jobs" to the county. -Anon-
Comment 08/07/12:
Guess this has been happening for years.
ibm-cost-difference-too-great-business-not-look-h-1b-workers
-abuse_of_worker-
Comment 08/07/12:
If you listen to this, you kind of get flashbacks to either
reading or hearing Loughride's presentation last month. I know I said to myself.."huh??"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LIAI2tEApc
-theyknowtheyknowtheyknow-
Comment 08/07/12:
How about a small TV campaign letting customers and potential
customers know that when they use IBM they are supporting workers in other,
increasing the NA unemployed rate. Also report on the countries with horrendous
Work conditions which they will be supporting by using off shoring instead of
local. -Chopped-
Alliance reply: If you have been reading this comment section for a while you
would know that we simply do not have the funds to do that. If you are not a
member, please join.
Comment 08/06/12:
-UnixDude- It's coming. The rumor around the Austin
campus that is home to POWER/AIX is that the entire site will be just one building
by the end of 2015. And from what I heard, this information came openly from
VP Dan Frye. They are already shuffling people around to different buildings
so they can terminate leases. This plays well with the STG sell off that has
been rumored several times. -IBMAustin-
Comment 08/06/12:
I was RAed this year. I was working as a PM for a major corporation
when I got RAed. I told the customer not to worry since IBM would replace me
with someone else. The customer objected to any replacement and told IBM Client
Executive that they would not continue their contract after I was gone. They
even went further and told IBM that they wanted me to continue the work I was
doing and would bring me back after my 30 day separation expired. So IBM lost
a $400K contract and the customer is paying me $100 per hour which is a lot
more that what I was getting paid at IBM. I would always tell the folks who
got RAed before me that there is a life after IBM. Well it is my turn and IBM
has released me to enjoy it!! -BeenRAed-
Comment 08/05/12:
top-10-reasons-why-ginni-rometty-will-fail-ibm
-angryman-
Comment 08/05/12:
What is "2015 road kill" everyone is talking about?
Sorry for my ignorance. -Question-
Alliance Reply: It is a euphemism for IBM's "Roadmap 2015" program
that basically fires a large amount of USA IBMers. For details, see earlier
posts in this comments section and the archives
of this section.
Comment 08/04/12:
Before my RA, my manager was rather insistent that I electronically
sign my PBC. I understand why, but could anyone tell me what would have happened
if I refused? -Glad2BGone09-
Comment 08/04/12:
I just logged onto the new Netbenefits page to check how my
FHA balance was doing. It suddenly shows 0?? Is this another take away by IBM??
-The beatings will continue-
Alliance Reply: The FHA account is as stated below '...
a NOTIONAL account balance. It is not a real $ account'.
In other words, you didn't HAVE anything tangible
for IBM to take away from you. It
was a "ghost" account.
Comment 08/04/12:
http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2012-08-04/
Dilbert pegged IBM internal budgets! -Anon-
Comment 08/03/12:
TO>> -maesey1->>REQUEST THE (up to) ONE YEAR LEAVE
OF ABSENCE and it should give you the time to make FHA eligilibility. You would
need to use COBRA until you hit the retirement point. What has IBM been feeding
their latest crop, that they cannot figure out how to work the system to their
advantage. -NO_KY-
Comment 08/03/12:
"Doesn't IBM still make servers?" Once the
Chinese figure out they don't need IBM or find a way to compete effectively
against IBM who can blame them for getting out from under the Big Blew umbrella?
I wouldn't be surprised if IBM Power series RISC (AIX) servers get jettisoned
soon. zSeries Linux seems to be the way it is going. Then IBM will be back to
being a big iron mainframe cash cow. If all this happens, then voila: more RAs.
-UnixDude-
Comment 08/02/12:
-coincidence-- It's called Smarter Planet -IBMed-
Comment 08/02/12:
Employers to be more generous with Raises next year, (don't
count on IBM to join the mix before the 2015 road kill), Employers to raise
worker pay by 2.9% next year -->
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/employers-raise-worker-pay-2-094300685.html
-Anonymous-
Comment 08/02/12:
@-fixer-, There were several outages on w3 over the
same time frame of the India power outage. Hence, support not available when
power is down in India? -coincidence--
Comment 08/02/12:
Any news on potential Rational cuts? -Nothere-
Comment 08/02/12:
"Interesting article here- the question is: Doesn't
IBM still make servers? This appears to be a gigantic slap in the face to IBM
being that Lenovo used to have close ties to IBM."
I wouldn't be surprised if Lenovo is making x-Series servers,
but to be clear I just don't know. As to "slap in the face", there
was a 5-year agreement between Lenovo and IBM which I believe has ended recently.
It's only natural that Lenovo is looking to expand it's presence in the 5-year
old wake of IBM leaving the commoditized notebook/desktop hardware business.
-Anonymous-
Comment 08/02/12:
Perhaps the power outage in India was an example of IBM's "Smarter
Planet"? -Anon-
Comment 08/02/12:
I can confirm some contractors got a 3% cut in Canada.
-whatever-
Comment 08/01/12:
CIO just announced two US Executives are being moved temporarily
(2 years) to Eastern bloc countries to build competency centers and skill depth.
They'll retain their US organizations, so they can directly manage the job transitions.
-anonymous-
Comment 08/01/12:
-How to get RA'ed?- On your own, you can't.
It's all up to IBM. If you mean how to get fired with cause and get no severance
or RA package? That's easy. What you can do to ensure severance benefits is
unionize with you fellow IBMers for it.
-anonymous-
Comment 08/01/12:
-maesey1- Sadly, pension benefits and retiree healthcare
benefits are totally different and determined as such. Are you at least 55 years
old? You also need to be this age at a minimum with at least 15 years of IBM
service to qualify for FHA. Check your earnings history under the pension account
from the Netbenefits site. If you have 15 full years of service and are at least
55 years old then you should continue your fight. You are not leaving $40K on
the table. The FHA, as has been mentioned in this forum and the IBM employee
issues yahoo board has made it clear that the FHA is a NOTIONAL account balance.
It is not a real $ account, not like a 401(k) not like a pension, and certainly
not like a real retiree medical insurance plan to cover you for the rest of
your retired life. Besides IBM can rescind the FHA at any time. They can deny
it to you at any time. It is NOT protected or guaranteed by ERISA and/or a union
contract. You and thousands others THINK you are entitled to FHA. Sadly, time
to THINK TWICE when the time comes to get it. -FutureHellAccounted-
Comment 08/01/12:
Someone asked, "I wonder if the power outages in India
are affecting IBM's ability to conduct business." Well, there's
fewer errors and mistakes
-fixer-
Comment 08/01/12:
Interesting article here- the question is: Doesn't IBM still make servers? This
appears to be a gigantic slap in the face to IBM being that Lenovo used to have
close ties to IBM.
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/news/blogpost/11377937/-Anonymous-
Comment
08/01/12:
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428440/human-workers-managed-by-an-algorithm/
Human Workers, Managed by an Algorithm. Foreign
recruits are the newest cogs in the crowdsourcing machine.
-Anonymous-
Comment 07/31/12:
Rate cut for contractors -Canuck-
Comment 07/31/12:
hearing that the reductions coming are selective in regards to product profitability.
For instance Information Management team that did not have the data warehouse
appliance like Netezza going to see some loss. Also, IBM is firing senor people
only to replace them with younger inexperienced sales execs. For instance a
manager in the midwest fired a productive rep with over 8 years with the company
and 25+ years in the industry for a Ricoh copier sales person with less than
18 months of sales experience. This poor kid has to cover the most complex accounts
in Core with not experience? I feel for her and the cusotmers. -270%-
Comment 07/31/12:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/31/world/asia/india-blackout/index.html
IBM moves 140K jobs, operations, outsourcing to
India where over two days 600 Million people, half the country is without power.
The day before a blackout affected 350 million people. Wonder how IBM will cover
the customer outages and failures to meet SLA's?
-Anon-
Comment 07/31/12:
I wonder if the power outages in India are affecting IBM's ability to conduct
business. -Anonymous-
Comment 07/30/12:
I was part of the March 28 RA. The Pension department said I have 15 yrs as
of March since I worked for a subsidiary, but the Health Care Benefits department
said I did not have 15 years since I transferred into IBM in August. So I would
have had to stay until August to receive the FHA benefit. I have been through
may layers of appeals with no success. I had to leave $40K on the table. Don't
feel comfortable thinking you have FHA, you may not have it. -maesey1-
Comment 07/30/12:
@-gadfly-, it doesn't matter what only one person does, because only
one person has no power. However, as a group or organized employees we can make
a difference. One person will not make a dent or we would already have Union
Contract. Organize or your efforts are silly. -nothing-but-ego-
Comment 07/30/12:
If I actually WANT to get cut - so I get whatever package they have - How would
I got about it?? -How to get RA'ed?-
Comment 07/29/12:
IBM will do whatever it has to do to make its numbers. We all know this. I will
do whatever I have to do to earn a living and support my family. That includes
joining the alliance, trying to recruit others to join. working hard for my
and IBM's customers so my reputation as a hard working professional is never
tainted in the eyes of my customers who are an RA away from possibly being my
employers. I would much prefer a union in place at IBM so I can continue to
work with the above average people at IBM and be treated fairly in the process.
I enjoy my customers as customers because I really do not know what it would
be like to work for them instead of with them. I am comfortable with my relationship
with them as it is so the union is the absolute best bet for me. If you feel
this is a reasonable way of thinking then I hope you will join me in supporting
the Alliance. -Exodus2007-
Comment 07/29/12:
IBM ruins what's left of outsourcing's appeal:
IBM_Beats_Indiana_in_Outsourcing_Case_No_One_Deserves_to_Win
-Barb-
Comment 07/29/12:
Boohoohoo- Our team RA'd a new hire that was with us less than 6 months. Just
because you are getting new people doesn't mean your team is safe.
-GettinHosed-
Comment 07/29/12:
Kudos to Gadfly. No mercy. -ExposeTheLie-
Comment 07/28/12:
Let's not say what we want to do if we get RAed. Let's organize and fight RAs.
You don't understand that with an RA if you have 15 years or more IBM service
you likely lose significant retirement benefits that were promised to you. For
instance, you'll probably lose the FHA (even though it might only be enough
for 2-3 years of retirement health premiums it's something you were told you'd
get for retirement). You might also be unemployed longer than you think. You
might not get the increased or same salary you think you'll get, you might even
have to work as an IBM contractor and get further abused by the big blue pig,
etc. Let's do something positive instead of resigning to getting caught up in
any future RA(s). IBMers need a union contract now! Let's do it now. We have
the power. -anonymous-
Comment 07/28/12:
-gadfly- I would suggest if you are RA'ed just say nothing and walk
away. Don't dump on the manager or tell them who you are going to work for.
Get as much as they give you and just leave. If you burn the manager you might
find that he/she will burn you with your potential employer.IBM managers are
not allowed to give out recommendations or performance history. If you burn
them they will give your prospective employer a "wink and nod" implying
you were not a good employee. Just food for thought and good luck.
-benthere-
Comment 07/28/12:
Q: "If SWG is on the chopping block, why did I get 2 more new team members
today, & 2 more starting next month?"
A: With two you get eggroll? You didn't say you got new members in the
US.
-Anon-
Comment 07/28/12:
@Anonymous- with the new team member: That could mean that you work
for one of the few products in SWG, that IBM still considers strategical (today).
Or, in case your new colleagues are old IBMers (not new hires), that they are
moving resources to the branch they are going to chop off. It is common practice
to move people to branches you're going to sell just to get rid of them. -Looking
for an Exit-
Comment 07/28/12:
-gadfly-, It is a kick for IBMers who have been hired by customers
because we know the inside scoop on how the company is operating these days
and the direction they plan on going to accomplish Roadkill. When I was RA'd
warlier this year, I was approached to work for my old client on a project oversite
team to monitor contract complaince/project, reporting and actual SLA status.
And I'm not the only ex-IBMer they have approached to hire. -Ex-IBMer-
Comment 07/28/12:
I had finally left IBM after numerous years of service while my credit was being
stolen by managers. All of a sudden, these H1B visa turned permanent resident
IBMers want to LinkedIn with me. Years in IBM, they never friends me, now they
want to connect ? These H1B visa workers are on the same pay scale as you and
I. DO NOT believe they are being mistreated. The only difference is they are
quiet, do not support union and very manageable. They are the obedience group
and will do dirty job for IBM .Hence, they got all IBM love, many becomes your
first and second line manager. Don't be surprise they are the one who turn your
name in to be RA. -DO NO TRUST H1B-
Comment 07/27/12:
All I have to say is that when my RA finally comes through, it is going to be
a sad day for the manager who has to sit across the conference room table from
me when I take a job working for the customer. What did Dr. Seuss say? "Oh
the Places You'll Go...." -gadfly-
Comment 07/26/12:
Boohoohoo I am supposed to feel sorry that execs aren't getting a pay raise
this year when they get tons of other perks, ie options, etc? ohhh Please, I
haven't had a raise since 2003, ask the senior vp about his "special"
parking space for his Porsche? I bet he doesn't subscribe to the bell curve
analysis of salary structure that pushes everyone to the middle pretty much
guaranteeing no increase year on year. -Boohoohoo-
Comment 07/26/12:
If SWG is on the chopping block, why did I get 2 more new team members today,
& 2 more starting next month? -Anonymous-
Comment 07/26/12:
Sounds like IBM is threatening to sell East Fishkill if they don't get their
freebie tax breaks. If IBM doesn't get their way, you folks in EFK will surely
get an RA:
Rumors-IBM-may-sell-plant-raise-questions
Lawmakers-say-they-ll-fight-keep-jobs-East-Fishkill
East-Fishkill-renew-IBM-chip-plant-tax-break-deal
-Pokey-
Comment 07/26/12:
@Anonymous- what you say is true, the government works for US and not
the corporations, however, the corruption with lobbying has the government in
the back pocket of these corporations. You will only influence corruption with
a better smelling rose (money). It would be easier to influence IBM itself than
the Government. Look at what happened in Wisconsin as a good example. -Unionize-is-your-only-hope-
Comment 07/26/12:
-TooMuchExperience-: I hope you can get 25 years and 1 nanosecond in
just for the simple fact you will get another 6 months of severance health insurance
through IBM before COBRA kicks in. And IBM sure seems bent on stopping you for
entering their Quarterly Century (i.e. Survivors) Club and your induction luncheon,
maybe the only meal or bread scrap, you can ever have on them now. I hope you
also don't get cheated out of the FHA even as measly as it will be. Yup, don't
trust this Blue Pig. They will do ANYTHING to save a shill as a cost cut since
this upper management has NO CLUE on how to grow real revenues. I can't understand
why the vast majority of IBMers feel a union is not necessary and do nothing
to try for one. Gosh, they need a union BIG TIME.
-over_and_out-
Comment 07/25/12:
SWG1, hearing from an excellent source that the Rational group is on the menu
as "Burnt Toast" for breakfast. Good luck -SWG/RTP'er-
Comment 07/25/12:
I am glad I am not the only one who has to shake my head and say wtf did I just
read. Loughridge speaks in some corporate double talk that is alien to me. Sounds
like just bullsh*&. Who really understands all of that garbage? And the
questions are definitely staged. Why not have a REAL q&a session with your
employees? -Babylon-
Comment 07/25/12:
Job cuts in Uk wide and respected candidates to leave IBM in sept no numbers
yet roadlkill is in action -Joe-
Comment 07/25/12:
You can write to your New York State Senator and Assemblyperson by entering
who is my New York State Senator or who is my New York State Assemblyman. An
employees union is the best way to curb corporate abuses but government needs
to know they still work for us, and not only greedy corporations.
-Anonymous-
Comment 07/25/12:
After 24 years (most with 1+ reviews) I've been told to find another position.
Former project coworkers tell me they were told I'll be training engineers in
India to take over my reponsibilities. Pig's ass, IBM! I'd rather stick needles
in my eyes. -TooMuchExperience-
Comment 07/24/12:
Remember the days when US Govt or Corporate accounts that had strict Federal
Regulations could only be supported by employees in the USA. Then IBM started
pushing offshoring and suddenly we started seeing India based employees with
Boulder e-mail addresses so that the client didn't know about the switch. It
was supposed to be a well hidden secret, but it wasn't. Now, somehow, any account
seems to be able to be supported from offshore sites. One of these days this
all is going to come back to bite companies where it counts the most. Had to
contact the HP Cust Support Desk last night for my own notebook and bingo, I
got their US based centers and was told they are bringing more and more back
onshore. -NeverChanges-
Comment 07/24/12:
Loughridge is the spin doctor and talks from both sides of his mouth at the
same time! He speaks IBM which is a senseless global language of semantics.
An RA is a key example of a word of IBM. It doesn't matter what he says or if
anyone understands him as long as that almighty EPS go up, up, and away with
whatever actions to do it even if it causes future suicide for IBM.
-WordSpeak-
Comment 07/24/12:
Strange that anyone would believe that corporations can't get away with anything
they want to as long as they are under no contractual agreement. Stranger still
that when year after year we the taxpayer gets screwed harder and deeper over
and over people still have not figured out that the government IS the problem
so therefore it is not going to fix the problem. There is no magic law going
to save your job. No silver bullet. No cavalry coming to your rescue. ( Unless
you consider the Alliance to be cavalry ) Until you stand up for your self and
get your co workers to do the same you will continue to get screwed. Joining
the union will not stop the government from screwing you but it will make corporate
America stop. -Exodus2007-
Comment 07/24/12:
RE: Mark Loughridge July 2012 earnings call. He stated "... workforce rebalancing
in the second half, I expect slightly greater than the first half of 2012. Now
that workforce rebalancing will be focused on our non-U.S. operations, very
little, but really in the U.S." In layman's terms, this means an additional
~6,000+ US employees will be RAâ??d by years end. Put another way, This
will be the final nail in the coffin of several more US IBM services customers
who will be pulling out due to data loss, project delays and general horrific
service that will be a result of any remaining talent supporting their account
being RA'ed This will of course drive the need for more layoffs (in the myopic
view of IBM executives) which in turn will cause more contracts to fail and
so on. This is also known as the Corporate Death Spiral (which ironically are
the initials of one competitor that will benefit from IBMs self destruction)
Your options should be clear by now.
1) Accept your fate and wait to be RAâ??ed or for IBM to fail (whichever
comes first)
2) Leave for a company that respects you and your talents
3) Unionize and save IBM from the executives looking for personal short term
financial gain.
-Robert-
Comment 07/24/12:
to -Anyone-Accountable?- I think that all the tricks they come up with
to exterminate the IBM US workforce will come back to bite them in the arse.
It's a game. Get a big contract, promise them the moon and stars, put a bunch
of people on the account that are about 10% as productive as US based employees,
shield them from the customer by puppets like SDMs and DPEs...but sooner or
later the customer gets wise and unfortunately by that time IBM has royally
screwed up their systems and whatever project it was hired to do. It does not
matter, because IBM has already made a ton of money by doing nothing for the
customer. It does not matter where the offshore people sit. The fact is...the
plan does not work as we have seen over and over again by lost contracts. Unfortunately
by the time IBM wakes up (and Wall Street, too) it will be too late and IBM
will be back where it was in the 90's. So being the cycle again....and again.
The only thing constant is change. Lots of fat cats will get even fatter in
this process. It's a plan, and the only ones benefitting from it are the ones
on top. -WakeUpAmerica-
Comment 07/24/12:
RA's on the way, you said that a major product line in SWG is coming to an end.
What product group is that? Thx -SWG1-
Comment 07/24/12:
Are-indian-high-schoolers-manning-your-ibm-help-desk?
Interesting new Cringley araticle - Are Indian high schoolers manning your
IBM help desk?
Clip: It's ironic that in the USA, with its supposed IT labor shortage, we can
hire college graduates for jobs that in India are filled by high schoolers.....
Yet in India IBM admits that the majority of its GDC (Global Delivery Centers)
workers lack university degrees. -anonymous-
Comment 07/24/12:
Help me out here. If IBM has been and will be laying off, HP has been laying
off, Cisco is laying off 2% more on top of what has occurred, etc etc then why
are ANY H1B, L1, or other foreign workers being allowed in to the US? Don't
the staffing reductions demonstrate over supply of workers and hence the spigot
should close? I walk around my neighborhood which has several big tech firms
nearby and all I see now are foreign folks who weren't here even 4 years ago.
I have nothing against anyone, but the law of supply and demand is being manipulated.
Who do we collectively write, call, email to say enough is enough, look around
at the decimated US workforce? -I've Been Mauled-
Comment 07/23/12:
to -RA's on the way- Thank you for that information. May I ask if you know if
the RA's will be US based or off shore? There is some confusion in the language
used/transcript of Loughridge's comments. Thanks for the information.
-ComeGetMe-
Comment 07/23/12:
Voluntary separation has started in the UK. No idea on numbers.
-Same old same old-
Comment 07/23/12:
Strange that IBM can get away with H1, L1 visa holders for government contract
work when the actual truth is that in order to comply with the contract requirements
the workers must be US based. I guess the visa makes them US based. Ironic huh?
-Anyone-Accountable?-
Comment 07/23/12:
You people have to stop living in the past. You all have a bullseye on your
back if your still with IBM. I just unloaded all my shares that I bought via
ESPP and made a nice piece of change. Join the Union. Sad when they set up a
protest day and no one shoes up -SAMTHEMAN-
Comment 07/23/12:
The use of foreign IBM contractors on New York State contracts, and just as
bad, the rationale for doing so, needs to be highlighted with a deluge of e-mails
and phone calls to New York's leadership. It's bad enough New York has allowed
IBM to extort taxpayer money over the years, but this latest revelation is over
the top. -Think-
Comment 07/23/12:
I just quit. I was a contractor. Prior, I was an IBMer for 33 years and a contractor
for three years. It was effecting my health. I feel so bad for those left behind.
-WSRK-
Comment 07/23/12:
To u2whoer's point, the question by Bill C. Shope - Goldman Sachs Group Inc.,
and subsequent reply by Mark Lougridge tells it all. The proceeds from the sale
of IBM's Point of Sale business is the blood money used to fund U.S. based 2H12
Roadkill. Here is the link to the Q&A sesssion. Look for the Bill C. Shope
area of the text, for additional pathetic details...
International-Business-Machines-management-discusses-q2-2012-results-earnings-call
-$20in15 Roadmap Roadkill-
Comment 07/22/12:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/07/23/olympics_cio/
Until the Atlanta Games, IBM did all the IT for the Olympics,
but the Commentator Information System went titsup annoying a large (even by
IBM's standards) number of the media. IBM doesn't do the Olympics anymore and
its decline from being the world's largest IT firm started about then. (Though
it may be because the firm decided to focus on higher margin services and software
revenue - that's what IBM would say anyway.)
-Anon-
Comment 07/21/12:
Rumored estimates are 2600 RA's in the US in August. Most of them will be from
the area(s) not affected in February. SWG should see a brunt of this as they
have a major product coming to end. Good luck everyone. -RA's on
the way-
Comment 07/21/12:
If you want a look back...way back...back in time...a different world
http://web.archive.org/web/19970416234646/http://www.empl.ibm.com/empl/ehwrkpl.html
-WhatHappened?-
Comment 07/21/12:
According to Mr. Loughridge's comments to analyst, "we will also have workforce
rebalancing in the second half, I expect slightly greater than the first half
of 2012. Now that workforce rebalancing will be focused on our non-U.S. operations,
very little, but really in the U.S. So all in all, we feel optimistic about
our hand for the second half in spite of the headwinds that we see." Now,
if I understand that correctly, the cuts will be greater in the 2nd half of
2012 than the 1st half and will be definitely focused on the US...with very
little happening to non-US. I guess he and the rest of the executives would
feel optimistic until there's no US IBMers left to cut. I'm sure there will
be plenty of H1B's to backfill though. (if something can't be off-shored)
-u2whoer-
Comment 07/21/12:
IBM's difficulties with City of Austin Energy Dept.
austin-still-mired-in-utility-billing-issues-blames-IBM
-Anonymous-
Comment 07/21/12:
IBM office in Greenville, SC has banned cell phone/smart phone usage. Phones
have to be put away. Welcome to North Korea folks! I swear the past 2 years
in this office is a case study in how much crap people will take. Unionize.
-Anonymous-
Comment 07/20/12:
Must be nice...will never see this happen at IBM
lenovo-ceo-gives-some-bonus-pay-to-10000-employees
-anonymous-
Comment 07/20/12:
Foreigners-drive-IBM-gains-in-state
IBM Corp., which has benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars
in economic development aid from New York political leaders over the past 10
years, uses computer programmers and analysts from India to work on some of
its largest state contracts. The foreign workers - who are physically located
at state agency offices in Albany but work for an Indian subsidiary of IBM -
have been key to the success in IBM being awarded massive amounts of state business,
such as a $52 million contract with the state Department of Labor to upgrade
its unemployment insurance system... -Isn't_it_ironic?-
Comment 07/20/12:
Internal calls are stating the SWG did not execute and the numbers are so bad
that resource action is the only way that IBM will be able to meet expectations
going forward. -270%-
Comment 07/20/12:
I gave my notice today, and it felt great. I look forward to working for a company
with a 19% pay increase and an actual team that works together rather than pitted
against each other for top PBC rating. Good luck to those left behind.
-Anonymous-
Comment 07/20/12:
to -Mike- the catch from going from nonexempt to exempt is you will
be working well over 40 hours a week to pick up the slack of the non-exempts
who are not allowed overtime. From what I've heard, 60 hours is not uncommon.
Say goodbye to your weekends, too. -anonymous-
Comment 07/19/12:
The emperor has no cloths, yet the procession goes on and the townspeople have
yet to speak out. To use another euphemism, IBM CFO, Mark Loughridge had to
use multiple tubes of lipstick to pretty up the 2Q12 earnings announcement pig.
I am sure the green eye shade team is up late feeding the 2015 EPS spreadsheet
to see how many more to lay to rest to make the number. For those interested
in the transcript: international-business-machines-management-discusses-q2-2012-results-earnings
-$20in15 Roadmap Roadkill-
Comment 07/19/12:
IBM is officially a mess. Can't turn revenue positive and need stock buybacks
and RAs and other stupid cost cutting tactics (no raises, no free coffee, etc.)
to fuel earnings per share profits. I don't see IBM sustainable for 2015 at
this pace. There is only so much one can cut when the surgeon has no body mass
left to operate on. So the patient dies. Remember corporations are living beings
according to our Supreme Court. Wall St. just might catch on to all this..and
soon. Then what tricks Ginny or Sam you have left in your bag of deception tricks?
Maybe consult lil' Louie Napoleon Gerstner for a clue?
-anonymous-
Comment 07/19/12:
-Global-Alliance-Trending-: You can thank Mr. Robert X. Cringely and
his exposes on IBM why the RAs might be more heavily weighted in India, China,
Brazil, Russia, etc. now. The Alliance has also exposed IBM USA headcount numbers
and that might also have something to do with things as well. -anonymous-
Comment 07/19/12:
Q. Whats the catch if they are talking about nonexempt to exempt?
A. So the Blue Pig don't have to pay out any OT. But IBM supposedly reclassified
IT jobs to avoid being in violation of the FLSA ACT of 1938 forcing many from
exempt to non-exempt with a 15% paycut. Go figure why they are are talking about
this switch now. -anonymous-
Comment 07/19/12:
ICS (Lotus) US division is being told to move headcount out. No exact figures
yet, some groups losing as much as 30-40%. Currently targeting subset of people
and telling them to make finding a new job outside division their priority.
No timeframe set for what will happen when these folks don't find the magical
internal job, but RA is next logical step..and it appears it will be large.
-Anon-
Comment 07/19/12:
@Global-Alliance-Trending Don't believe Loughridge when he says the focus won't
be on the US. They are cutting costs by getting rid of US employees and shipping
jobs to third world countries. They are not going to stop using that model.
They have shown earnings increased like this before and after investors really
look at the results the stock typically goes down because they know this is
not sustainable without really damaging the company. -longtimebeemer-
Comment 07/19/12:
@-Mike-, it depends on the context. In IBM, exempt is when you do not get paid
for over-time, thus you are salary. Non-Exempt is based on an hourly rate and
over-time over 40 hours. -IBM-World-
Comment 07/19/12:
Cutbacks-fuel-IBM-s-2Q-earnings-increase
Cutbacks fuel IBM's 2Q earnings increase Analysts wonder: Is it sustainable?
-Anon-
Comment 07/18/12:
Whats the catch if they are talking about nonexempt to exempt? -Mike-
Comment 07/18/12:
IBM earnings are up.
ibm-earnings-up-revenue-misses-target -anonymous-
Comment 07/18/12:
Mark Loughridge indicated in Q2 financials there would be additional work force
re-balancing that will be more intense than the first half of the year. He indicated
the focus would not be on the US, however, we already took a dive for the team
with no raises. Thanks Greedy Ginni. -Global-Alliance-Trending-
Comment 07/18/12:
This will make people think twice about outsourcing to IBM.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-ind-collect-ibm-welfare-lawsuit-16802141
-Barb-
Comment 07/18/12:
IBM needs Venture Capitalists to fund work?
"Second, we are also enhancing the GTO process to leverage our relationships
with venture capitalists (VCs). On June 27, Corporate Strategy's Venture Capital
Group and Research cosponsored a VC workshop held in Almaden where we heard
about trends the VCs are looking at and investing in, as well as gained their
reactions to our early thoughts on GTO 2013. Several things come to mind from
our meeting. First, previous topics like Managing Uncertain Data at Scale along
with Systems of People resonated with the VCs. They have numerous investment
in these spaces and it is clear that our point of view is aligned with theirs.
Second, the VC's think that software defined networking is going to be highly
disruptive and we have taken that thinking into account in one of our emerging
2013 topics. Lastly, analytics provided via a cloud environment is how new companies
are penetrating Fortune 200 companies." -Anon-
Comment 07/18/12:
When is the 2nd QTR 2012 Roadkill 2015 report due so we can see IBM upping the
EPS estimate even more necessitating a RA? -anonymous-
Comment 07/17/12:
As some of you have mentioned before, do not trust your HR Partner to treat
your communications confidentially. They will Cc or Bcc your FLM (and who knows
who else). I found this out the hard way. Guess who will in the next RA - me.
-anonymous-
Comment 07/16/12:
Crap's gonna hit the fan on Wednesday: http://www.cnbc.com/id/48199114
Analysts are saying: "Play [IBM Stock] short into earnings."
-The Next Enron-
Comment 07/16/12:
There is definitely life after IBM:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/boss-gives-employees-7-500-vacations-143431561--abc-news-topstories.html
The "just be glad you have a job" refrain from IBM Management
and HR is starting to ring very hollow these days. -Greener Pastures-
Alliance Reply: It has rung hollow for quite sometime.
IBM management has used this very phrase, to help them keep employees from starting
a union. It is also the phrase that implies "we will send your job away;
be quiet and keep your head down." This is also a phrase that has been
repeated throughout the non-union industrialized world. One point to remember:
Hundreds of thousands of workers, the world over, formed unions anyway, in spite
of the threats from their employer. Those union workers ARE 'thankful' they
have a job; and they are also glad that they stood up for themselves and won
a contract.
Comment 07/15/12:
-270%- Yep, it's time IBMers learn they don't EARN anything in this
Big Blew. Ok, maybe an eventual RA.. RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL? EXCELLENCE
IN EVERYTHING WE DO? It's all long gone and ancient history now. Let's write
new history with an employee contract now! Let's re-install those old IBM values
now! -GoAlliance-
Comment 07/15/12:
Perhaps I shouldn't post this comment. However, I can state that working for
an IBM business partner is quite similar to working for IBM. Actually, it is
worse.
I know - I've worked for both IBM and for two IBM partners.
So, don't believe that they respect their employees; don't believe that they
will assign an employee to projects that will use the employee's skills; especially
don't believe that they don't require 100% travel. Honestly, depending on the
partner firm, don't believe that they will pay your salary as agreed. Especially
steer clear of Section 8(a) stars firms, who are small, disadvantaged firms.
Do not believe what they say - the person listed as the CEO or owner will stop
by the office for an hour or so on Monday, just to check timecards. Also, don't
claim actual hours worked, even if you have an hourly contract.
I'm not sure whether this is an argument to stay with IBM - if you have the
option - or just a reflection of how the job market works today. Regards.
-IBM Partner-
Comment 07/15/12:
An interesting article in Saturday's Albany Times-Union. This certainly would
boost EPS in the short term, while hollowing out the company in the long term.
Perhaps another mile marker on the roadmap to 2015...
http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Talk-of-a-chip-plant-deal-3706495.php
-Anonymous-
Comment 07/13/12:
-270$-: Ethics? In IBM.. LOL What a travesty has happened
to you. Wish you well with your good fight. Now you know where RESPECT FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL finally went to. Then pinching your true commission might be indication
how tight the 2nd QTR was for IBM. Like they need every last bit of $ to fudge
it. Using your true commission to pad it.
-ampnymous-
Comment 07/12/12:
A must see video... don't let GM, IBM and others fool you. The mass US job exodus
continues while our congressional corporate puppets do nothing to stop it. We
need to all wake up now and do something about it!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Lvl5Gan69Wo
-Paul Revere-
Comment 07/12/12:
After asking HR in writing to confirm my commissions earned, and requesting
a contact. My manager went into FMS and changed my deal participation to 25%
in an effort to limit my earnings on a 2.6 million dollar transaction. WOW.
This is the kind of company that the world relies on for its business ethics?
Time for IBMers to wake up. -270%-
Comment 07/12/12:
To>>270%>>If you have an friend still at IBM, give them a call and
have them print off what you want. Also, in your browser go into Tools and Clear
your CACHE and ERASE YOUR COOKIES, and things may start to work again. -NO_KY-
Comment 07/11/12:
was offered 25% on a 2.6 million dollar transaction. They only want to pay 29,000
for a deal that should have paid me 118,108. Guess the fight my EARNED commission
begins. What a horrible experience. -270%-
Comment 07/11/12:
IBM, where quality is Job 'Last'. Internal help desk offshored long ago. Ticket
turnaround is horribly slow and problem resolution is poor. Recent 20% downtime
of 'IBM Connections' (new key focus for collaboration) is impeding product development.
Internal RHN server support was moved offshore recently and since then has had
several usability issues. Internal virtualization focus has been to cut costs
(less hw) rather than improve efficiency. IBM: It's BEEN Marvelous.
-Jeff-
Comment 07/11/12:
-No-KY- Thank you for the information. I have had to hire an attorney
now to collect. Funny, reports have suddenly "disappeared" and I can't
log into FMS either. My passwords don't work, and when I call the help desk
they tell me it must be my machine. It is really disgusting that IBM goes against
the very core values that they hold the employees to daily. There are no values
here. -270%-
Comment 07/11/12:
Looks like investors are finally wising up: http://www.cnbc.com/id/48141461
Investors in IBM stock should now take heed of another famous
P.T. Barnum quote: "This way to the egress!" -Fools Errand-
Comment 07/11/12:
Kudos to GM and Mott. Hopefully the insourcing success at GM will prompt other
big companies to take IT back home. Where IT belongs. -IBMDefector-
Comment 07/10/12:
I'm a 1%er! That's my raise. 1 percent. average over the past 4 years 1.25%,
and that's considered being lucky. No MBA. again -one percent-er-
Alliance Reply: Sooo....what do you propose to do about it? Have you thought
of organizing? We can help.
Comment 07/10/12:
A legacy of which one can be proud:
joyce-d-miller-dies-influential-womens-union-organizer
-Organize IBM Now!-
Comment 07/10/12:
-Anon-: See the post comment from Tom in the Computerworld article.
Xerox discloses USA employment figures. IBM doesn't. Xerox doesn't use the term
RA either. Wonder why? -anon-
Comment 07/10/12:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9228947/Xerox_s_outsourcing_one_year_later_layoffs
Xerox's outsourcing one year later: layoffs -Anon-
Comment 07/10/12:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/interviews/240002892
Mott, who has been CIO at Wal-Mart,
Dell, and Hewlett-Packard and joined GM in February, believes in numbers. And
as he tries to transform GM's IT operations, he plans to flip one set of numbers
on a scale that no CIO has ever done before. Today, about 90% of GM's IT services,
from running data centers to writing applications, are provided by outsourcing
companies such as HP/EDS, IBM, Capgemini, and Wipro, and only 10% are done by
GM employees. Mott plans to flip those percentages in about three years--to
90% GM staff, 10% outsourcers. Insourcing IT on that scale will require GM to
go on a hiring binge for software developers, project managers, database experts,
business analysts, and other IT pros over the next three years. As part of that
effort, it plans to create three new software development centers, all of them
in the U.S. IT outsourcers, including GM's one-time captive provider, EDS, face
the loss of contracts once valued at up to $3 billion a year.
-Anon-
Comment 07/10/12:
Who knows what Ginnie knows or even if she and the other royal personages even
care. The $20 march is all that matters. It is the sole purpose of being. Wonder
what they'll decree for 2020, $50? by then, who would be left to even care...
-Ska_Lvr-
Comment 07/10/12:
I am in STG, non-exempt.
108% of grid median.
30 plus years in.
Got a small raise last year.
Got better than 2% this year.
Decent variable pay every year.
I could say I got mine so to heck with you.
I rather state that I have been a very public Alliance member since 1999. If
you do not join you might as well tell the board your woes. I am sure they care.
-Still Here-
Comment 07/09/12:
Tucson Bring Jobs Home rally:
http://local.americawantstowork.org/weareone/events/show/8444
See the web site for actions in your community. -member-
Comment 07/09/12:
P.T. Barnum was right! "There's a sucker born every minute":
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-enters-long-term-agreement-070000476.html
Looks like Goran Kordel (CIO of Sandvik) didn't get the memo.
-Fools Errand-
Comment 07/09/12:
The "no raises for executives" announcement is just a transparent
political move. I'm not impressed. Bonuses at that level will make up for it.
-Anonymous-
Comment 07/08/12:
"No raises for the bosses means happier rank and file." Well not exactly
but I understand your point. Maybe not happier but more pacifistic (as usual)
rank and file. So the IBM manager can tell the employee 'I also didn't and can't
get a raise' so the employee believes their manager and accepts it but the manager
doesn't have to tell the employee about their bonus plan which might be increased
if they can maximize profits and cost cutting since it doesn't apply to employees,
bonuses just for managers.
Q. And how does an IBM manager do that?
A. An RA of their employees. -anonymous-
Comment 07/08/12:
Exodus, your right as usual! No raises for the bosses doesn't mean no bonuses
or increased stock options or changing option exercising policies (like lowering
the vesting time to exercise the stock buys sooner to compensate for no raise).
Folks should check this out often to see: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=ibm
Of course the big bosses are immune from RAs. Why can't IBM offshore a VP or
Sr. VP to India? Also, no bell curve distribution for PBC ratings either if
they are even appraised or under the PBC system to begin with. I wish folks
would listen to your wisdom! -anonymous-
Comment 07/08/12:
Regarding Executive pay raises. Ginni has picked up on the animosity giving
raises just to the bosses causes. No raises for the bosses means happier rank
and file. The bosses will probably get larger bonuses that won't be general
knowledge. Where there's a will there's a way. -Exodus2007-
Comment 07/08/12:
To -270% QUOTA- Use the 30 days to collect all the info on your quota
attainments, as they may mysteriously disappear later. (monthly letter, etc.)
The state department of Labor will want facts, not he said, she said. Your quota
tracking statements should show where you were and what you should be paid on.
Don't let IBM say that a percentage should be held in arrears, as that is not
in the quota contracts. They tried that on me and lost. -NO_KY-
Comment 07/07/12:
The fact that every RA folks come here to post that they exceeded quota, or
were consistent 1 performers or were the greatest employees since TJ Watson
Jr tells me people just do not get it. It does not matter how well you work.
You have no contract. It does not matter how much money you make or have made
for IBM. You have no contract so you are disposable. Your not management, well
some of you may have been, but with no contract you were disposable anyway.
This has been the consistent message of the Alliance since 1999. Protect yourselves
by joining with others. As long as you do not do this simple thing called safety
in numbers you will fall one by one. None of you are so important that you can
not be disposed of if Management decides to. -Exodus2007-
Comment 07/07/12:
To all IBMers Lou and Sam robbed the employees their pensions and raises. This
will continue until IBM has a union. We employess were given a bunch of bull
s***t. There is no respect for the individual. Join the union, or this crap
will continue. -ANA-
Comment 07/07/12:
One thing I don't get... people say if you don't like it, go work somewhere
else... I have tried to go back to PwC and have been blocked TWICE by IBM who
has threatened PwC that IBM would take away their business from PwC if PwC kept
hiring IBM employees, which has caused a"do not hire IBMers" stance
at PwC (as recently as 3 months ago). Also, some of us never asked to work for
IBM, so the question of "Why do you want to leave IBM?" is kind of
moot. -IndiaBusinessMachines-
Comment 07/07/12:
http://www.cringely.com/2012/07/06/it-class-warfare-its-just-ibm/
IT class warfare -- It's not just IBM -Anon-
Comment 07/06/12:
to -Change_Freeze - that is unbelievable. Seriously.
How can anyone put up with that... -Unbelievable-
Comment 07/06/12:
270% of quota and not only did I get my walking papers(30 day exit plan), now
they don't want to pay me my earned commission. So much for IBM integrity, and
honesty. -Not the ibm i thought I joined-
Alliance reply: If IBM doesn't pay you your earned commission, contact your
state department of labor.
Comment 07/06/12:
No raises huh? No backups then either, oops. -GDF loser-
Comment 07/06/12:
Has anyone seen this blatant piece of disingenuous propaganda that was recently
published? http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/2011/ceos-letter/index.html
No mention is made of the tens of thousands of loyal employees
who have been summarily fired, the pensions for which employees worked their
entire lives that have now been stolen, or the elderly widows who had lived
for years on a meager IBM pension, and who now receive an invoice for their
medical insurance instead of a check. Former Reichsminister Joseph Goebbels
must surely be looking up from the Ninth Circle of Hell and smiling, knowing
that his legacy of propaganda lives on at IBM, as he eagerly awaits the arrival
of those who have perpetrated these grave injustices.
-No Fate But What We Make-
Comment 07/05/12:
I am trying to remain positive in this company, but it is virtually impossible.
Everything is a mess. There are roadblocks at every turn. It is impossible to
get anything of substance done easily and quickly. I find (and I am not being
discriminatory) that when Indian/offshore teams are involved in something I
need to accomplish, it is really frustrating and time consuming to drive it
to completion. Either I have to escalate the task to a "dispatcher"
or the many many many many PMs that have to be involved in these projects have
to spoon feed someone in order to get the tasks done properly. SOOOOO, who is
really saving time or money from this offshoring? I can't answer that. IBM is
in a state of emergency...they are bleeding customers because of these inefficiencies...everyone
that I speak to about these issues have no answers. We are just waiting for
the Big Blue machine to crash. The account I work on is a mess and I would NOT
be surprised if they loose it, very soon. Problem after problem...and when these
problems arise, guess who they call to the rescue? The US based employees. -BigJoe-
Comment 07/05/12:
•M______/Chicago/: S____ I’m in a room filled with
20 very concerned (edited) customers trying to run their new line financial
pareto reports for the US financial accounts. This is one of the BTO transition
items I have to get setup for the client ASAP.
•S__________/India: Yes M___ this is S____.
•M______/Chicago: Yes S____ I know. I am inside of the report we are stuck
on the case number selection field which has been searching for results for
approximately 5 minutes without a result.
•S__________/India: Yes M___. Are you connected into the internet?
•M______/Chicago: S____ yes I am connected to the internet. There are
no values showing up in the prompt selection. The report is failing. People
are not happy I’m in a room filled with upset union workers.
I’m wasting their time.
•S__________/India: M___ can you see if you can get to the Google.
•M______/Chicago: S____ I’m connected to the internet I’m
speaking to you on the internet.
•S__________/India: Yes M___ internet is not issue.
•M______/Chicago: You and the team marked this as a passed item in your
SIT testing according to the client. Note the test cases all mentioned a specific
value to search on 12501 for example case number 2 does not work. The users
are trying to do the same. It is not working.
•S__________/India: M___ yes I test the field and when the field didn’t
return value I skip it.
•M______/Chicago: S____ did you skip everything that was not working and
just mark it passed?
•S__________/India: Yes M___.
•M______/Chicago: So you have no idea what you’re doing? Is this
a correct assumption?
•S__________/India: Yes M___.
•M______/Chicago: I think I’m in the Twilight Zone.
•S__________/India: I not get message M___.
•M______/Chicago: Get up now walk over to Prasad and let him know you
are no longer on my project. Tell him to get the entire team in a conference
room in 10 minutes and to dial in my line. You’re not invited. Do you
understand this?
•S__________/India: Yes M___ I think there is a problem. -Change_Freeze-
Alliance Note: Names have been redacted and are confidential.
Comment 07/05/12:
-Geriatric Delivery Center EFK-: See what LIHA? has said below. IBM
can do more bad things to us: They can fire you with made up cause and deny
you unemployment. They can say you are under a non compete agreement essentially
meaning you can't continue your career if you find another job. They could even
bring you up on false charges if they could fabricate them. They got tons of
money and lawyers and can make an example out of any employee. They can make
your life a living hell worse than it already is. We can't resign ourselves
to fate. I know it is hard. But we have got to start somewhere or at least protect
what little we have before 2015. That is why the Alliance is still around.
-anonymous-
Comment 07/04/12:
If there are no raises regardless of rating, and we are almost certain to be
RA'd by 2015....what leverage do they have over us. do whatever you want for
the remainder of your time here. There is nothing more they can do. -Geriatric
Delivery Center EFK-
Comment 07/04/12:
Told the mantra Tuesday that there's no market based raises, money going to
targeted areas. Mid year PBC is due. - Watson Research -Anon-
Comment 07/04/12:
It appears not too many took the Transition to Retirement program offer so this
can foretell something more. If it was highly successful IBM HR would be gloating
by now about their highly innovative program. I think it is highly plausible
that if IBM has a bad quarterly result or is not on target for 2015 EPS or simply
doesn't need as many USA employees going forward then then next RAs will be
more brutal: I am talking substantial pay cuts to all USA workers to make them
more competitive with their Indian counterparts. Then once the IBMer gets their
pay cut IBM will RA some more of them and base their RA package on the new globally
adjusted IBM pay scale. Don't think IBM would not try this? THINK TWICE. Just
think of the huge profits IBM will make. This has already happened to a degree
to those that had their pay cut 15% years ago and some of them also got RAed.
But I feel pay cuts, benefit cuts (even the load of the FHA), and RAs will soon
be more pervasive. But the vast majority of USA IBMers continue to DO NOTHING
to stop this from possibly happening. They can do something to stop this from
possibly happening if they just have some sense left to join the Alliance.
-LIHA?-
Comment 07/04/12:
Microsoft-downfall-emails-steve-ballmer
[]
Eichenwald’s conversations reveal that a management system known as"stack
ranking"--a program that forces every unit to declare a certain percentage
of employees as top performers, good performers, average, and poor—effectively
crippled Microsoft’s ability to innovate. "Every current and former
Microsoft employee I interviewed--every one—cited stack ranking as the
most destructive process inside of Microsoft, something that drove out untold
numbers of employees," Eichenwald writes. "If you were on a team of
10 people, you walked in the first day knowing that, no matter how good everyone
was, 2 people were going to get a great review, 7 were going to get mediocre
reviews, and 1 was going to get a terrible review," says a former software
developer. "It leads to employees focusing on competing with each other
rather than competing with other companies."
[] -Anon-
Comment 07/04/12:
Let us get some independence ourselves and get our union, get our contract,
and get it all in writing, so we are no longer dependent on IBM management acting
like King George III in 1776. -IBMPatriot?-
Comment 07/04/12:
All IBMers are equal but some are more equal than others, when it comes to raises.
The same holds true to the next upcoming RA.
-Orwelled-
Alliance Reply: Do something about it. Join Alliance@IBM
and grow the numbers of US IBMers that have a voice in their workplace and ultimately
then have the power to negotiate a contract that addresses raises and all.
Comment 07/04/12:
-Anonymouse- But when India gets too "expensive"
or deemed not competitive enough for IBM's greedy interests, then IBM Indians
will be RAed in droves like in the USA. Once we see a marked uptick in China
IBM employment or the first IBMers hired in Africa, then India IBM must fear.
Globalization does not discriminate but will always reward greedy international
corporation greed. -tiger_by_the_tail-
Alliance Reply: And as long as US IBMers don't organize in greater
numbers, IBM will continue to RA to their wallet's contentment. There is no
relief to any IBMers anywhere in the world, if they do not organize. Alliance@IBM
is focused on the USA. The IBM Global Union Alliance is focused on the world.
Join Alliance@IBM and let's grow the numbers of IBMers that want to stop rewarding
"greedy international corporation greed."
Comment 07/03/12:
Can you please reply with the number of active Alliance members who can vote
for a contract and what is the estimated magic number needed to reach a quorum
in order to actually propose collective bargaining representation to the US
IBM employee base? Thank you. -BOHICA 2015-
Alliance Reply: We have answered this numerous times. See our archives. Or if
you want a personal reply, contact us at ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
Comment 07/03/12:
"The Chinese Government should give IBM Management an award for creating
jobs in China!" Who says they haven't? I agree with the Alliance reply
of no more tax credits and subsidies. Employees also need to unionize to get
a contract that protects their interests which will also end up protecting the
interests of IBM customers (who often seem to be forgotten in these discussions).
-anonymous_retiree-
Comment 07/03/12:
Indian raises are a very good thing. Until Indian salaries and infrastructure
costs line up with the U.S. we will continue to move jobs there.
-Anonymouse-
Comment 07/03/12:
Check out the latest Doonesbury story line:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/doonesbury-slideshow/
The Chinese Government should give IBM Management an award for
creating jobs in China! -Born in the USA-
Alliance Reply: ...and the US Government and State governments should stop giving
IBM tax credits, subisdies and tax breaks for offshoring jobs to China.
Comment 07/03/12:
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/opinion/blogpost/11264984/
but India gets the raises... -what a cluster-
Comment 07/03/12:
from the UK:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/28/rbs_job_cuts_and_offshoring_software_glitch/
-anon-
Comment 07/02/12:
Stand up and fight for yourself. Stand up and fight for your coworkers and friends.
For those who were part of an RA in the past 3.5 years, it is too late. For
those remaining, the choice is still in front of you. -Oatmeal-
Comment 07/02/12:
@Anon1234, why the news now is a question for your manager. Not everyone at
IBM is in the same group, it is quite diverse. -W-T-F-
Comment 07/02/12:
Interesting Reading:
job_insecurity:_it%99s_the_disease_of_the_21st_century_%93_and_it%99s_killing_us/?
-MooCow-
Comment 07/02/12:
Here is how I try to get the word around: I wear an Alliance tee shirt around
town and when I shop, especially at pr around vehemently anti-union businesses.
I bet some IBMers have got to have seen me around town wearing the tee shirt.
I also wear the tee shirt more during downsizings and announced RAs to further
heighten awareness. I have not been challenged negatively for wearing it and
even have had a few folks ask me what it is all about. -sby_willie-
Comment 07/02/12:
"Tucson call center closed"? The only call center in Tucson that I
was aware was the DASD support center that handled customer service calls and
gave support to the SSR's working on IBM DASD, is this the center that is being
closed? -Retiree-
Comment 07/02/12:
Got the message Friday that there's no market based raise (SWG) and even 1's
and 2+'s will get a paltry amount if any. The same day my PBC goal outlining
how I'm going to perform at 150% over last year was due. Then said manager announced
he will be on vacation for next week.. I'm trying to determine whether that
makes him a victim of delivering the message of the execs or just another coward.
-Critical Mass-
Comment 07/01/12:
NYC power utility locks out union workers as talks stall:
http://news.yahoo.com/nyc-power-utility-locks-union-workers-talks-stall-062657782--finance.html
(IBM isn't the only NY Company with a Management Greed Problem.)
-Organize Now!-
Comment 07/01/12:
I work in Poughkeepsie (STG) We were told no cost of living raises, and very
limited raises for (1,2+)'s about 2 months ago. All of the money is going to
emerging markets. Why is this news now????? Most of us are expecting more of
the same musicale chair games until the dust settles in 2015 or beyond. -Anon1234-
Comment 06/30/12:
We are being treated ss commodities, expendable cogs.Less salary to us, more
profit to them. -Kevin-
Comment 06/30/12:
Can Tulsa, OK be far behind in closing as well as Tucson, AZ? -anonymous-
Comment 06/30/12:
-AngryBird- I sent a pair of clean white socks to Tom Bouchard then
director of HR to protest the 1999 IBM pension heist by US mail. I wondered
if the dope ever got the real message. I bet he might have even worn these socks
being cheap as IBM has been since Gerstner. Take the advice of the Alliance.
They know what they are doing here!
-Anonymous1999-
Comment 06/30/12:
Tucson call center closed
http://azstarnet.com/business/local/call-center-in-tucson-has-closed-ibm-says/article_22756860-835b-5783-8800-0997270d5094.html
-anon-
Comment 06/29/12:
Ok well I am a member and that was my suggestion. What else can we do? In a
virtual environment (work at home)...there's no water cooler to stand around
and talk union. I am a member, Jim. -AngryBird-
Alliance Reply: Please contact ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
for things that can be done, as a member.
Comment 06/29/12:
Jeff asks "Does demoralizing people into resigning count as a job cut?"
As far as IBM executive performance plans go, it does. They're measured on how
many people in their groups they move out of the business. And managers are
trained in a process called"self-selection". That's where they target
employees they want to move out, and then make their lives so miserable that
the employee resigns. IBM doesn't have to pay any RA expenses in that case.
Just ask yourself, are your appraisals getting lower each year? Do you stop
seeing raises? Are you getting more and more marginalized in your job? That's
self-selection at work. Welcome to the New IBM. -Voice of Experience-
Comment 06/29/12:
Jeff: "If we all target one date, maybe the impact will be felt."
If we sell all our shares these shares will or are probably be reserved
for buyback or have some more shares to give out as options to the executives
so it could just be what IBM wants. Then IBM would come up with a reason to
kill the employee stock ownership plan for those who still participate even
for the measly 5% purchase discount. -trader_joe-
Comment
06/29/12: Those that will get salary increase.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/software-services/IBM-India-likely-to-give-salary-increment/articleshow/14497821.cms
-anon-
Comment 06/29/12:
I am just surprised that so many do not get it. IBM will push and push and push
and the employees will meekly accept whatever is done to them. Some have too
many years in to leave and others are scared off by the news of awful job marketplace.
So, IBM will continue to have no increases, slash salaries and increase workload.
Come up with absolutely ridiculous programs like the TTR program. And RAs will
continue. And still they will not join the Alliance. They will whine and cry
after they lose their jobs/benefits and come here and post bad things about
IBM but do nothing to help themselves. I do NOT envy Lee or any others who are
trying to help and are being ignored. God bless those who have the intelligence
to join up!!! -Jim-
Comment 06/29/12:
http://www.ibm.com/investor/governance/board-of-directors.wss
Suggest a paper contact (old fashioned letter on Alliance letterhead)...to
each board member with our concerns. They may not HEAR us if the media is muffling
the sound of our voice. No one can stop the US mail from putting something in
their HANDS to hold and read. Send it to their home addresses. Similar communications
can be sent to the boards of the Big Blue Customers who are getting shorted.
All the info is on each of their websites.... -AngryBird-
Alliance reply: We did that when the execs cut the pay of IT specialists a few
years ago.
Not one director responded.
Comment 06/28/12:
Frozen salaries in GTS, plus potential salary reductions. Morale must be in
the toilet.
ibm-to-freeze-salaries-of-some-employees-2012
-AlreadyGone-
Comment 06/28/12:
Hit back in their pockets. Let us ALL (who have IBM shares) move them to some
other investment mid-July. If we all target one date, maybe the impact will
be felt. -Jeff-
Alliance reply: Unfortunately the number of shares owned by IBM employees is
very small.
Comment 06/28/12:
Does demoralizing people into resigning count as a job cut? No raise, manager
avoid and had delegate email annual statement (which included 0 raise). Salary
penetration is less than 50% yet years of server is well over 30. Lean and certainly
MEANER IBM. Thank goodness competitors are hiring. -Jeff-
Comment 06/28/12:
You're a disgrace to the IBM Corporation, J. Randall MacDonald, and IBM Employees
call for your immediate resignation! -Resign Now!-
Comment 06/27/12:
I'm one who believes in not biting the hand that feeds you. But this is unreal.
The hand is biting us! How ironic! -OuchNoRaise2012-
Comment 06/27/12:
Accounting in Raleigh was announced today to begin going to Buenos Aires in
July 2012, completed by the end of 2013. About 40 jobs. Primarily band 7s. This
will end IBM's accounting presence in Raleigh. -Outta Here-
Comment 06/27/12:
I personally know of 2 RA'd IBMers who went to work for the Customer this summer.
They were let go in the big March 2012 RA. They are happy at the Customer and
are giving them an earfull of what is REALLY happening behind the scenes...i.e.
all the services they are PAYING for and NOT GETTING. Plus, all of the issues
that IBM hides from them...the customer would be horrified if they were to know
some of the issues that are going on NOW. The SDM's are just actors who keep
the juggling act going. -AllianceMember-
Comment 06/27/12:
-Fishkill Yank-, how many of us will still be here on August 15th,
to have a blue/sickout? As far as the Alliance is concerned, I'm also interested
in protecting retirement benefits. So I will continue to support the union with
my associate member dues even after my R/A is announced. Have we angered so
many mainframe customers too, it's awfully quiet in mainframe land.
-Poughkeepsie Engineer-
Comment 06/27/12:
Remember W-T-F- You can lead a modern IBMer to a vast pool of knowledge
like this website, but you can't make them THINK.
-Exodus2007-
Comment 06/27/12:
-mms- Already been done in East Fishkill GDF last year. Can you spell
R + A? -anonymous-
Comment 06/27/12:
"CEO is getting the cream the working grut is only getting skim milk"
More like drinking buttermilk, and warm buttermilk at that!
-anonymous-
Comment 06/27/12:
Any IBM executive or upper management that gets a 0.1% raise for 2012 should
be challenged! C-mon folks what is it gonna take for you to understand the Alliance
is tha only way you can fight back? -anonymous-
Comment 06/27/12:
-ANA-: IBM is known for taking RA action near holiday weekends, and
so that those that get their RA notice are gone before the quarter-end books
close. Your comment sounds about right. -RA'd but still in contact-
Comment 06/27/12:
-Born in the USA- you forgot Amgen and AstraZeneca. -LowlySDM-
Comment 06/27/12:
No pay raises for EUS. (1 ratings included) -Really-
Comment 06/27/12:
To Born in the USA, there are also a number of US accounts that are in continuing
discussion and suits with IBM for contact breaches and are working to replace
IBM. Anticipate further loss of long time customer accounts over the next year.
The customers are just dotting all the i's and crossing all their t's. Customers
are also starting to hire more RA'd IBMers so that they can get a good picture
of how IBM operates and manipulates their stats, etc. -RA'd but
still in contact-
Comment 06/27/12:
I had my salary rejection meeting this AM. I resoundingly objected to my manager
about the lack of salary increases versus the record profit with IBM. I do not
come here for support so there is no need to comment on this. I do come here
in the small ray of hope that this type of news could possibly move other employees
to unionize to stop this madness. Why? Why do you non-union members take this
abuse? Why are you so cheap that you cannot afford a measly cup of coffee a
week to stand up for what you work for? I will continue my membership here until
I leave this company or I am RA'd for having the guts to stand up for what I
believe in. After I leave IBM, I will no longer support this Union because there
are very few people that have courage to take a stand and they expect others
to do the work for them. -W-T-F-
Comment 06/27/12:
For all of you that complain of no raise and big bonuses for CEO's, are you
Alliance members yet? Are you organizing your fellow workers? If not don't complain
because you haven't earned a contract and IBM owes you nothing without a contract.
The CEO's have their contract. You need one too! -Gone_in_07-
Comment 06/27/12:
" the working grut is only getting skim milk !! -PBC DOUBLE STANDARD!"
Milk, you got milk? Seems that I have been milking the bull with no raise
for 7 years(at the middle of pay scale)... -anon-
Comment 06/27/12:
On the call now about salary from our management. This is bad. Record profits.
We were told that SDMs are valued. In other words, Duty Managers are not.
-US Duty Manager-
Comment 06/27/12:
My past PBC was a 1. I was just told that I will not get a salary increase.
PBC does not matter. I will not work to be a 1 again. -1 No More-
Comment 06/27/12:
I know that this union cannot support what I am about to say but I am officially
calling for an IBM Blue day in the US and Canada. On August 15th show your displeasure
with IBM by calling in sick. Talk to your co-workers ask if they've heard about
the Blue day. Time to send a message. -FishkillYank-
Comment 06/27/12:
Work for Randy McDonald in Armonk. Will be a large amont of RAs if more employess
do not take early retirement. Head count reduction to commence in early July
and will be a large amount. -ANA-
Comment 06/26/12:
imagine a full week for all not getting a raise simply shutting off their sametime-connect
(sympathy shut down for those who get a measly one) hypothetical, of course
-go_dark-
Comment
06/26/12: How many major accounts has IBM Management bungled
and lost lately ....
Disney, State of Texas, State of Indiana, NFL, Hilton, ServiceMaster... Am I
missing any? IBM Management thinks it can charge top dollar and then deliver
services out of some third world rat hole, and Customers will be dumb enough
to say: "Thank you, Sir, may I have another?" How many times do Customers
have to get kicked in the nuts by IBM Management before they wise up? Along
these lines, I hear there is new Service Plan in the works: Customers pay IBM
half of their IT Budget, then they go out back, Mistress Ginni kicks them in
the balls, and they call it even!! The Customer "Value Proposition"
is that it'll be a lot cheaper than wasting their entire IT Budget on a Service
Agreement with IBM, and there is no need to clean up the mess once the Customer
is forced to terminate the Agreement because all of their IT Systems have come
to a grinding halt. -Born in the USA-
Comment 06/26/12:
At IBM East Fishkill NY my manager told me Today that there were now no pay
raises for 2 PBC performers. Only 2+ qualify .. Received a 1.6 percent Yearly
salary increase! What a kick in the butt for last Years work performance while
the CEO is getting the cream the working grut is only getting skim milk !!
-PBC DOUBLE STANDARD!-
Comment
06/26/12: They have launched a belt tightening program in Dubuque,
quietly being rolled out one team at a time. It's called GDF Simulation Launch
G4. (Internal
IBM Link)
Here is how it works: They have the teams document their work into a tool for
three weeks. This data is then analyzed and an algorithm is used to make determinations
for how the work could be done with fewer people. (Remember the card game you
played in GDF training). Then they implement their design by,literally, benching
staff. These benched technical resources are then assigned to creating documentation
for an extended period of time. They did this with a pool that had one of the
biggest backlogs in the building, and they benched 6 people. Dubuque is severely
short-staffed with a notoriously high rate of turnover. So, while IBM is receiving
income from each client for a certain number of FTE, they want to find a way
to provide only 50% of those resources to the people who actually do the work,
and pocketing the rest. -mms-
Comment 06/26/12:
My mgr told us that some people ARE getting pay raises - in our area, it is
only the 1 performers. Supposedly it is based on "critical skills".
-TRRparticipant-
Comment 06/26/12:
to boulder grunt - you're wrong - IBM invests millions in raises - oh to non
US resources .. bonuses - again non US resources ... training - my 'peers' in
costa rica, brazil and india are always in training .. IBM is a wonderful USA
company -RA'd this year-
Comment 06/26/12:
I was told last week that in SWG this year they were only giving top contributor
reward (TCR) portion of raises this year, not the other part (MBA) that brings
people closer to the midrange for their band. If you are a 2+ consider yourself
lucky if you get a 2% raise this year. Unbelievable after the year they just
had, but then again, they want the US employees to leave. -longtimebeemer-
Comment 06/26/12:
"IBM USA Employees: The Employee Employment Program takes into
account a number of elements, including competitiveness in markets we serve,
our ability to attract and retain certain people with skills we need, our business
performance, and other employee investments (which we can't disclose since we
don't have to or want to). It is essential for a services business to provide
value-added services to clients at competitive price points which our employees
need to be sensitive and understanding of. Our objective is to ensure a competitive
labor cost structure while moving aggressively into areas that are strategic
to our clients and require innovative solutions. This is fundamental to driving
clear return on investments for our clients and to increase opportunities for
all IBM middle and executive management who are always key to our leadership
and success and to balance our ability to remain competitive with the need to
invest in only those people who we think have high-demand skills. Instead, we
will target the 2012 investment to skill groups or focus areas as identified
by each line of business, based on local market needs. These decisions do not
affect the significant investments IBM makes each year in talent in addition
to salary, including bonus programs, recognition, promotions, and skill development.
Your manager or leadership team will communicate additional information to you
over the next few weeks who of you will be selected for resource actions."
I know IBM can rely on you to give your all to the business so we remain competitive
so we can make 2015 a stunning success: a milestone in IBM history that all
who participated in at some point can be very proud of." -da_real_facts-
Comment 06/26/12:
-Almost Happy- Every state has their own rules when it comes to collecting
unemployment -longtimebeemer-
Comment
06/26/12: methinks that the phrase "need to invest
in high-demand skills" is code for the IBM mentality that simply living
in the Asia Pacific region is a "high-demand skill".
-IndiaBusinessMachines-
Comment 06/26/12:
no raise for you!
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/opinion/blogpost/11248998/
-ticked off-
Comment
06/26/12: @BOHICA They do have a clue. They understand
perfectly what they are doing and it is all part of the plan to remove all non-executive
level workers from the U.S. by 2015. This will motivate some to quit and so
it will save them salary and RA hassle. -unsurprised-
Comment 06/26/12:
Hey, instead of b*ching about no 2012 pay raise programs why not organize, unionize,
so you can avoid a pay cut soon when the blue pig thinks they might miss their
2015 EPS target by $.01? Hey, unions have been well known to get their members
raises and these agreements are in contracts and enforceable by USA labor law.
-2012$hit-
Comment 06/26/12:
Zapfel should have sent that email before the TTR deadline. There probably would
have been a lot more takers. -short timer-
Comment 06/26/12:
"Your manager or leadership team will communicate additional information
to you over the next few weeks." "Our objective is to ensure a competitive
labor cost structure "
Some in GTS had theirs reduced 10% 1/1/12. I would not be surprised if
other business units find this cost savings an easy fix. Be prepared.
-Sounds Familiar-
Comment 06/26/12:
They are trying to get the remaining US workers to quit, thereby relieving Big
Blue of having to pay severance. Don't leave folks...just sit tight and do as
little as possible. They are cutting off their own nose to spite their face.
Let the customers bring them to their knees. Customers are jumping ship. Stay
until there are no accounts left to service...then they'll have to let us all
go and give us severance...and with that IBM will go down the drain and rightfully
so. -Big Blue Turd-
Alliance Reply: Why not take one more step in your plan of resistance? Why not
organize your co-workers and give IBM public notice that they are on the wrong
track. Organize and fight back. Don't just "sit tight and do as little
as possible". Do as much as possible to get as many IBMers
as possible, to join Alliance@IBM and build a union of IBMers that serve IBM's
customers well and are treated fairly.
Comment 06/26/12:
Lockheed workers to vote Thursday on new contract:
http://news.yahoo.com/lockheed-workers-vote-thursday-contract-184105156--finance.html
"Wage increases of 2.5 to 3 percent in each of the next
four years, a lump sum payment of $2,000, and an additional $1,600 in cash to
pay for inflation" sounds pretty good compared to bupkes from IBM! -Organize
Now!-
Comment 06/26/12:
"significant investments IBM makes each year in talent in addition
to salary, including bonus programs, recognition, promotions, and skill development"
What a load of bull. I've been a 1 performer for the past 3 years
(and 2+ for 4 years before that). This is the thanks I get for putting up with
the 15% pay cut. This is the thanks I get now that you restrict OT. Bonus? The
2012 bonus for 1 performers was a joke. Recognition? I have gotten 0 -- ZERO,
ZIP, ZILCH recognition in the last 20 years. Skill development? That's a joke...
if it's not an internal class, it doesn't exist and I'm not allowed to take
it. I knew this was coming, asked my manager about it last week at our 1-1.
Couldn't shoot the messenger though, he just has to deal with the irate minions.
The one thing he did say was "well, you should be glad you have a job!"
(to which, I'm very tempted to reply, "You should be glad I show up to
work every day!!!") So much for being a card-carrying member of the Alliance.
Come on people, put up or SHUT UP! I'm contributing but my $$ and efforts are
wasted if we don't ALL start rowing this boat together.... How much more abuse
are you all going to take????? -Boulder Grunt-
Comment 06/25/12:
Email came out for GTS Canada that there is no Salary increase program for 2012.
Except for specific groups. Gee, wonder what groups those could be?.... lol
CEO's maybe? -whatever-
Comment 06/25/12:
GTS just announced that there will be no pay increases for 2012. The Pig needs
the $$$$ earmarked for raises to remain competitive and to attract/acquire skills
that are in demand. In other words, those IBMers who are constantly being thanked
by Mike Valente on his Qtrly BS sessions, really don't contribute to the success
of the business, and therefore do not warrant the generous 2% pay increase that
is usually awarded to the 2+ers. These greedy SOB's are pathetic and have no
clue how they are killing the US based producers of this company. Thjey would
sell their mother to make the 2015 roadkill target. -BOHICA-2015-
Comment 06/25/12:
IBM doesn't make list of the 25 Best Tech Companies To Work For In 2012.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-25-best-tech-companies-to-work-at-in-2012-2012-6
-Anon-
Comment 06/25/12:
Just got an 'official' note from Bobby Zapfel:
Pretty much said: *uck you very much for all your hard work, but you're not
going to be getting any raise this year. Keep up the good work. See ya next
year!- dun-4 -
Comment 06/25/12:
New email from Bob Zapfel this afternoon. No raises in 2012 - for anyone. Even
2+ and 1's. -Rick-
Just got this... -RatBastards-
"GTS Employees,
The Employee Salary Program takes into account
a number of elements, including compensation competitiveness in markets we
serve, our ability to attract and retain people with skills we need, our business
performance, and other employee investments.
It is essential for a services business to provide value-added services to
clients at competitive price points. Our objective is to ensure a competitive
labor cost structure while moving aggressively into areas that are strategic
to our clients and require innovative solutions. This is fundamental to driving
clear return on investments for our clients and to increase opportunities
for all IBMers.
To balance our ability to remain competitive with the need to invest in people
who have high-demand skills, there will not be a broad-based salary program
in GTS in 2012. Instead, we will target the 2012 investment to skill groups
or focus areas as identified by each GTS line of business, based on local
market needs. These decisions do not affect the significant investments IBM
makes each year in talent in addition to salary, including bonus programs,
recognition, promotions, and skill development.
Your manager or leadership team will communicate additional
information to you over the next few weeks."
Comment 06/24/12:
Lockheed Martin and many other companies are offering "real" buyout
programs, instead of sick jokes like this TTR program:
shedding-jobs-lockheed-martin-launches-another-buyout-program/2011/07/19/gIQAVQVMOI_story.html
"The severance package provides two weeks of pay, plus another
week of pay per year of service, up to 26 weeks."
It’s certainly not like IBM Management couldn’t afford
to offer Employees a similar package:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=IBM+Insider+Transactions
-Just Plain Had Enough-
Alliance Reply: The Lockheed article was published July 19th 2011. Neither company
is obligated to offer ANY "buyout" programs, as long as the employees
are "At Will Employees".
Lockheed does have a small group of employees that are union machinists ; but
their union is limited to that "trade" union designation and location.
In their case, they may have separate retirement provisions within the contract
they negotiated with Lockheed at that time.
Organize and build a union within IBM US, so that you can force an election
and bring IBM to the bargaining table and negotiate a contract that has provisions
for Retirement, Medical, wages and salary.
Comment 06/24/12:
Transitional Update At the IBM East Fishkill NY Facility:
-25 vendor Cleaners were let go last Friday.
-Ground maintenance,lawn, and snow removal losing their contact.
-Fluor Vendor maintenance losing up to fifteen people.
-Yet to come up to 500 IBM personnel being so called surplus within
various Mid Hudson Valley work sites. -Transitional Blood Bath!-
Comment 06/23/12:
NYT Editorial - "The Anti-Union Roberts Court":
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/opinion/the-anti-union-roberts-court.html
-Use it or Lose it-
Comment 06/23/12:
9 from the Bremerton Quality Department will be let go in July due to financial
cuts. -Anon-
Comment 06/22/12:
I'm part of an SA team still alive but barely breathing in the US. Each RA we
are down 2, 3 people and the workload of the RA'd folks gets distrubuted to
the remaining. Each time that happens, lots of long time knowledge and expertise
is lost...gone forever and the people left to carry on have that much more weight
on their shoulders...to the point where they do many things...but no longer
do anything to the standard that it was once done (imho). Most of the day is
spent either chasing the offshore team to do their jobs (because the customer
does not want to talk to them)...or fixing messes that have been made from too
many hands in the pot. Hands that have no clue what they are doing most of the
time. So, what happens is you have a team of broken folks just keeping their
heads down, doing what they can to survive until their time comes. I am an alliance
member and know a few others on my account that are also. Further to what someone
said in an earlier post...I agree...the Customers are somewhat aware but are
not fully aware of the state of affairs behind the scenes / the service they
are paying for but not getting from IBM. I am almost embarassed on some of the
calls that I attend. We have no answers to give the customer because no one
knows what these people are doing...thousands of miles away in different time
zones... And there's that language barrier. A whole other issue. Is it really
worth it? Bring the jobs back here to the US, with people who know the processes
and procedures and most of all...know the customer and the level of service
that was once worth what these customers are paying for. -TiredofBlueWallofSilence-
Comment 06/22/12:
Ulster bank's parent company (RBS) outsourced IT infrastructure to IBM and others.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18549560
Ulster Bank apologises for "chaos" caused by
glitch:
The Chief Operating Officer for Ulster Bank has apologised
unreservedly to customers for the "mayhem" and "chaos" caused
by a software glitch. Ellvena Graham also promised that no customer would be
out of pocket because of the problem and said all fees and charges incurred
will be reimbursed. Tens of thousands of Ulster Bank customers in Northern Ireland
and the Republic have been affected, along with Nat West customers in Britain.
Transactions are running 48 hours late. -Nother IBM screw up?-
Comment 06/22/12:
@da_facts: One point for others who may read you post. Even though
you're talking RA and not TrT, be aware: On the TrT there is NOTHING in writing.
I have asked. The only thing that's in writing is the online documentation.
-OnTheRoadAgain-
Comment 06/21/12:
To Almost Happy: At least in NY, if you got a lump sum severance, you were entitled
to collect unemployment pretty much immediately. I also encourage everyone to
do so if they can. Don't let pride get int he way or think you have a cushion
due to the severance. You pay unemployment taxes for a reason and you are entitled
to collect and use those funds until you find your next job. Take what is yours!
Apply as soon as you can. Best of luck to you. -NYC Unblued-
Comment 06/21/12:
To Almost Happy, I would check why they told you that you had to wait, most
states approve you to begin unemployment immediately after your last actual
day of work not the date of the end of the severance package. There may be a
problem on how you submitted your paperwork. I applied the day after my March
28th date and was approved. I included my serverance money in my application
and they do not count that or the vacation payout. -March2012 RA
Too-
Comment
06/21/12: -Invisible-: As Elmer Fud used to say "Be
very careful". Until you sign the RA separation papers IBM can still fire
you with cause and reduce or even take away all or part of a RA separation package
off the table and tell you goodbye. Unless you have something in writing from
IBM that says for you to stay home and do nothing you have absolutely no protection.
NONE. Your still an "at-will" employee, albeit an RAed one.
-da_facts-
Comment 06/21/12:
I wouldn't be so worried of whether you get that FHA or not... I would be very
afraid to lose your car(s), house (or can't pay the rent), other assets, deplete
your savings, and be able to get a decent bills paying job in this crummy economy.
This does happen to those RAed. Do something now to protect or preserve what
you have now. The best thing you can do if you are in IBM and are non-management
is join this union. This union movement in IBM has staying power and has been
trying to organize folks like you since at least 1999. But you have to join
to make it last and work for you. -IBMUnionYes-
Comment 06/21/12:
Instead of being so pacifistic and resigning to your fate of being RAed and
asking questions of how much severance and whether your eligible for FHA or
not DO SOMETHING NOW! ORGANIZE! You have the legal right. You need to exercise
this right NOW. It amazes me sadly that most IBMers are allowing IBM management
to run rough shod totally over them. It's like a dog that the master continually
beats up and under feeds and the dog still comes back for in humane punishment.
C'mon folks, stop the madness. You can do it! JOIN THE UNION. -anonymous-
Comment 06/21/12:
Is it true that if you lose your job on a RA, you also lose your FHA eligibility?
-Don L-
Alliance Reply: We've answered this question several times and so have many
of our visitors. Please search through this file (key search FHA) and/or the
"archived" Job Cuts files for full explanations.
Comment 06/20/12:
Unemployment benefits? I was part of the RA in March, 2012. I had read/heard
that unemployment starts within a week or so of seperation date. State of CO
just informed me Im not eligible until after severance period ends (I got nearly
6 months). Any experience with this? Thanks -Almost
Happy...-
Comment
06/20/12: I was told I Was RA'd in March but have an exit date
of July 31. I did very little work in April. Even less in May and nothing in
June. My manager is clueless and either is afraid to say something to me or
has no idea what is going on. I am not even coming to the site. Just staying
home. -Invisible-
Comment 06/20/12:
I've worked on three accounts and my job has been sent to India once, South
America once and eastern Europe once. I am lucky to still be employed but I
know my time is very short. My entire department is being purged and the vast
majority of the work has been sent overseas. Dozens of others in my department
have been layed off. On multiple occasions I have been reassigned to do other
people's jobs that were layed off. I'll be turning the lights out soon.
-SysAdmin4IBM-
Comment 06/20/12:
I am now working on the customer side (state government) of an account that
I worked on as an IBMer for years. The people on this side, especially management,
are mostly clueless about IBM's business and HR practices. A 13 - year IBM veteran
on the account just quit (a better job elsewhere -- imagine) and no one on our
side can figure it out...I have been trying to educate them that IBM is no longer
a quality organization, either from a delivery perspective or from a employee's
perspective, and it is hard for them to wrap their minds around. IBM's reputation
is still very solid, and one of the best ways to undermine it is at the grass-roots
level. The press, with the exception of Cringely, is unwilling to risk the ire
of IBM and their big advertising bucks. If you are RA'd or leave the company,
let current and potential clients know about the disaster that is IBM. It may
be the only way to effectively combat Big Blue's corporate crimes.
-Switcheroo-
Comment 06/20/12:
To demonstrate solidarity between the troops and know that we hear each other,
why doesn't the Alliance call for a SameTime" orange out". Everyone
go on DND for one hour and watch the switchboard turn orange before your eyes.
I don't know where to go from there...but we know the msg is getting out.
-Hi-
Comment 06/20/12:
Something legal WAS done to stop what IBM and other corporations are doing.
You have the legal right to organize your workplace and form a union. This is
America. This is how Capitalism works. If you do not organize you will be used
and abused for maximum profit. That is what corporations do. Its not evil. Its
business. So is forming a union. Its protecting your end of the business relationship
with your employer. The nanny state mentality has to stop. No one is really
going to take care of you from cradle to grave so stand up for yourselves. You
get what you negotiate for in business. Want a seat at the table? -Exodus2007-
Comment
06/19/12: Just a couple of years ago, the duty manager team
transferred 25 peoples worth of workload to India. Just recently in March of
this year, they transferred another 25 peoples workload to Costa Rica. There
is more workload transfers that will happen. There is nowhere to hide. There
is nowhere to go. A union contract is long overdue. I should have joined the
Alliance when I could now that my time with IBM is now over. 23 years of dedicated
service to IBM did me no good. -Stop the bleeding already-
Comment
06/18/12: Why can't anything legal be done to stop what IBM
is doing? Seems IBM has dotted all their I's and crossed all their T's. Are
we just hosed? My job is going to Mexico in July. IBM GBS strikes again.
-nolovelost-
Alliance Reply: The key point for you to remember is that what IBM is doing
IS LEGAL. They may be getting around some regulations (as referred to in comments
below); but US laws and regulations do NOT restrict IBM from offshoring or outsourcing.
The other point to remember is this: You and ALL US IBM employees are "AT
WILL EMPLOYEES". IBM can *almost*, do whatever they want with you. Until
US IBMers stand together and fight back by organizing and being public about
it, and taking actions that slow down IBM's perpetual offshoring.....then, Yes,
you ARE hosed. Sorry to be blunt. But it is the truth. US IBMers MUST GET MOBILIZED!
Take Action! Join Alliance@IBM. Then, as members, get other IBMers to join.
Then form a committee of IBM employees and continue to spread the word throughout
all US IBM locations. As Alliance members, force IBM to recognize that their
US employees will no longer tolerate being abused and then fired. Criticize
IBM publicly for what they do to their employees. Let the public and the world
know what IBM is doing. Alliance@IBM CWA Local 1701 will represent you and your
actions, as members of Alliance@IBM. That's what united employees can do, if
they want to. It's your choice. Take a stand.
Comment 06/18/12:
You know years ago I thought it was a privilege to work at IBM, then I saw how
they treated their employees...before IBM I was considered a top performer in
my class now I'm barely making it as average, no raise for 10 years, one cost
of living raise at 1.3 percent, and alot of "you better get this done at
the end of the sprint" or else...management by fear is a great technique,
but its like yelling at a kid, sooner or later the kid will act out and ignore
what is being said, no wonder the new kids coming in from school these days
don't want to work hard, they have the smarts to know they are totally being
taken advantage of...seems like the only ones that get ahead are managers, last
year all the managers in my group got 1 pbc ratings for doing great jobs, the
rest of us got crap...and the answer was "ohh well, times are tough, your
lucky to be working" now pull that schedule in by two weeks...I hear tell
from the contractors in the field that the software we aquire works well for
about a year then when IBM gets its processes on it it turns to crap, doesn't
integrate well and is impossible to debug and install...keep offshoring there
BigBlue...your short term gain is your long term loss... -JustanEngineer-
Comment 06/18/12:
Response to: "Bring IBM jobs back to the US!"
eBlast to Alliance@IBM members, supporters and employees.:
"Help break the silence on off-shoring IBM jobs. Please post on
our job cut report board where your job was or will be offshored and what your
job title was/is. Post here: www.endicottalliance.org/jobcutsreports.php"
My job was off-shored to Hungary. Job title was Technical Writer/Editor. Still
no others from my team for this quarter, but 3/9 saw 3-4 other positions to
go Hungary as well. -Gone baby gone-
Comment 06/18/12:
Yep. Got the acceptance email today. Now the 3 days/week experiment begins.
My apologies to those of you who did not apply, get accepted or weren't eligible
for TtoR. Sadly you will be picking up the 40% of work that will no longer be
performed by those of us who got accepted. We wish you luck. -Drank
the TtoR coolaid-
Comment 06/18/12:
10-4 on that, RSS SSR. Take as much as you can, as soon as you can, including
your pension, FHA, and anything else still available to you. Since there is
no Labor Contract in place, IBM Management can eliminate benefits and pretty
much do whatever they please. The only legal protections currently available
for IBM Pensions are provided by ERISA. Also, once a benefit has been started,
there is a much stronger argument that one "relied upon" the benefit.
Moreover, given the ongoing cannibalization of IBM by Management, that is now
becoming readily apparent to even the general public, do you really think those
shares are going to go up in value (or will be worth anything, for that matter)
over the long term? -All Hail Road Kill 2015!-
Comment
06/18/12: April 2009, 5000 jobs were cut. Global Business Services
Systems Engineering Architecture and Test Practice, My position was an engagement
architect. Team to train was formed in August 2008. They shadowed us until we
were cut. -Linda P-
Comment 06/18/12:
Response to: "Bring IBM jobs back to the US!"
eBlast to Alliance@IBM members, supporters and employees:
"Help break the silence on off-shoring IBM jobs. Please post on
our job cut report board where your job was or will be offshored and what your
job title was/is. Post here: www.endicottalliance.org/jobcutsreports.php"
India (that's what they tell me) -Mike E-
Comment
06/18/12: "The target for the Transition to Retirement
was 8%. 1% signed up."
So a 7% RA of the USA IBM workforce should happen this summer
and fall. 3.5% at a time since HR can't keep up with the execution numbers.
-fuzzy_math-
Comment
06/18/12: To "Drank the TtoR coolaid": The
brochure statement about managers personally communicating to their employees
was only if you were being denied. It also says all applicants will receive
notice the week of June 18th. I think everyone got those notices today. In other
words, you would have only heard something last week from your manager if the
answer was no. Hopefully by now you've received the acceptance note (as I have).
-CJ-Roc-
Comment 06/18/12:
My mgr talked to me over a week ago and I received my official notification
email today (accepted). -TRRparticipant-
Comment 06/18/12:
SSRs that got wages slashed by 10% on 1/1/2012 were given early vested rights
to the "gift" of 1k stock prior to 2015 (6/16/2012). Anyone know when
they can really be sold? Morgan Stanley oversees the shares and I have yet to
be able to sell. I see no reason not to take this money ASAP -RSS
SSR-
Comment
06/18/12: "A union does not throw off the balance of
power in the workplace--lack of a union does." http://gawker.com/5916267/why-we-need-unions
-Got_Union?-
Comment 06/18/12:
It is not surprising that IBM is losing accounts. I have heard that RA'd folks
are annonymously emailing the Directors/VP's/Board...anyone that'll listed,
about what is REALLY going on in the day-to-day ops. Monitoring was offshored
a while ago, as well as TSM so these two BASIC services are in shambles. It
takes forver to get a backup configured on a new server and sometimes they are
missed altogether. Same for monitoring. -I_know-
Comment
06/17/12: How do you know 1% signed up? I would certainly sign
up if I were retirement age and received the letter, in a heartbeat. Of course,
I work in IBM GBS (IGA) - the armpit of IBM. -Anonymous-
Comment 06/17/12:
HCL-ceo-outsourcing-dead-and-theres-nothing-innovative-in-cloud-technology
IBM mgmt sent out this full article thru the ranks and even
made highlights as to what they thought was important..HCL is directly targeting
IBM's pissed off clients..the link above is only part of the story...not the
whole thing..i can get you the whole story if needed -Rich-
Comment 06/16/12:
The target for the Transition to Retirement was 8%. 1% signed up.
-Tony Soprano-
Comment 06/16/12:
-Drank the TtoR coolaid-: It's all going to depend on the almighty
2rd QTR results when ANY real decision of SUBSTANCE is made. A call to HR? LOL!
They don't know anything. Haven't since the John Opel days.. Evil HR Director
Randy MacDonald is probably playing golf on a Friday afternoon anyhow and will
enjoy his Father's Day why most of IBM fathers work this Sunday.. I bet if not
enough drank the koolaid then they have to push up the next RA numbers. If more
folks did drink up then IBM has to decide who to keep and who to deny and I
bet they don't have a clue at that. IBM had to have a ballpark figure of who
they thought would fall for the TtoR. But if it is off just a bit, it is a screwball
they can't hit with a wiffle bat. Like I say it all depends on the 2nd QTR which
is drawing to a close to what the verdicts will be. And to all who were not
offered the TtoR figuring you don't have to worry about your job. You better.
It will affect some of you. -anonymous-
Comment 06/16/12:
When I was at ServiceMaster, the company hated IBM. They had laid off nearly
all their IT people and replaced them with IBM. The IBM team was mostly in India,
with a few Indians on L1 visas located in Memphis. Even the managers and PMs
were from IBM India. Besides myself, I think there were maybe three other IBM
U.S. employees on the gig. I'm surprised it took them this long to kick IBM
out.
Cringely got one thing wrong. IBM doesn't use many H1B visa holders anymore.
Instead they hire people into IBM India (or IBM China, etc.) then they bring
them here under L1 visas. Unlike H1B visas, there is no restriction on the number
of L1 visas allowed. Theoretically, L1 visas were supposed to be for senior
managers or skills that are unavailable in the U.S., but as this article confirms
(and I can confirm, too, based on my experience) that requirement is ignored
by IBM and not enforced by the government. -Jim-
Comment 06/16/12:
I Cringely - An IT labor economics lesson from Memphis for IBM (06/14/12
article):
My recent series of columns on troubles at IBM brought
me many sad stories from customers burned by Big Blue. I could write column
after column just on that, but it wouldn’t be any fun so I haven’t.
Only now a truly teachable lesson has emerged from a couple of these horror
tales and it has to do with U.S. IT labor economics and immigration policy.
In short the IT service sector has been shoveling a lot of horse shit about
H1B visas.
Who says there will be chaos without more foreign IT workers
and are they correct?
Cynics like me point out that foreign workers are paid less
and — more importantly — place much less of a total financial
burden on employers because they get few, if any, long term benefits. I tend
to think the issue isn’t finding good workers it’s finding cheap
workers. But the H1B program isn’t supposed to be about saving money,
so that argument can’t be used by organizations pushing for higher visa
limits. All they can claim is a labor shortage that can only be corrected
by issuing more H1Bs.
To test this theory let’s look at Memphis, TN, where
IBM has recently lost two big customers. One of them — Hilton Hotels
— dumped IBM only this week. The other company is ServiceMaster.
Hilton just announced they are canceling almost all of their
contracts with IBM less than two years into a five-year contract. This includes
global IT helpdesk, all data centers, and support of “global web”
(hilton.com and all related systems).
According to my sources at Hilton, the IBM contract was a
nightmare. IBM couldn’t keep Hilton’s Exchange servers running.
The SAN in the Raleigh data center hasn’t worked right since it supposedly
came up in January, with some SAN outages lasting more than a day. IBM couldn’t
monitor Hilton’s servers in the IBM data center. Hilton had to tell
IBM when the servers were running low on disk space, for example.
Now IBM is gone, replaced by Dell, and Hilton has a new CIO.
If there’s one point I’d like you to keep in mind
about this Hilton story it’s IBM’s apparent inability to monitor
the Hilton servers. More about that below.
ServiceMaster is the other former IBM customer I know about
in Memphis. Among its many beefs with IBM, ServiceMaster also had a server
monitoring issue. In this case it was the company’s main database that
was going unmonitored. IBM was supposed to be monitoring the servers, they
were paid for monitoring the servers, but in fact IBM didn’t really
monitor anything and instead relied on help desk trouble tickets to tell it
when there was a problem. If you think about it this is exactly the way IBM
was handling server problems at Hilton, too.
Now to the part about labor economics.
When ServiceMaster announced its decision to cancel its contract
with IBM and to in-source a new IT team, the company had to find 200 solid
IT people immediately. Memphis is a small community and there can’t
be that many skilled IT workers there, right? ServiceMaster held a job fair
one Saturday and over 1000 people attended. They talked to them all, invited
the best back for second interviews, and two weeks later ServiceMaster had
a new IT department. The company is reportedly happy with the new department
whose workers are probably more skilled and more experienced than the IBMers
they are replacing.
Where, again, is that IT labor shortage? Apparently not in
Memphis.
About that database monitoring problem, ServiceMaster hired
DBADirect to provide their database support from that high tech hotbed, Florence,
KY. The first thing DBADirect did was to install monitoring tools. Remember
IBM didn’t have any monitoring running on the ServiceMaster database.
How can a company 1/100,000th the size of IBM afford to have
monitoring? Well, it seems DBADirect has its own monitoring tools and they
are included as part of their service. It allows them to do a consistently
good job with less labor. DBADirect does not need to use the cheapest offshore
labor to be competitive. They’ve done what manufacturing companies have
been doing for 100+ years — automating!
Even today IBM is still in its billable hours mindset. The
more bodies it takes to do a job the better. It views monitoring and automation
tools as being a value added, extra cost option. It has not occurred to them
you could create a better, more profitable service with more tools and fewer
people. When you have good tools, the cost of the labor becomes less important.
-IBM Bites the Dust Again-
Comment 06/15/12:
The Transition to Retirement brochure states that on "June 14-15: Managers
personally communicate decisions to employees". It's the 15th 4:30PM and
that is not happening. A call to HR and they stated they had no clue that was
the plan. Their response when asked why not, was told that some divisions are
still making decisions. Final decisions and communications are expected to happen
next week via an email. Hope this is not a sign of things to come for those
of us who applied and eventually get accepted, that other "commitments"
documented in the brochure get retracted/axed..... -Drank
the TtoR coolaid-
Comment 06/15/12:
Hard to believe I've been out of that pit for 5 years now. Difference between
IBM management and my current management: IBM - "You're getting a PBC 3
for all your hard work and free overtime." New management: "I wish
we had 5 more like you, here is your raise." I do hope those of you that
are left wise up and move towards unionizing. IT's the only thing you can do
if you want to continue working at IBM. Just remember, when the axe falls in
your direction, and it will, there is life after big blow. -Gone_in_07-
Comment 06/15/12:
-TRRparticipant- Well, good luck... cross your fingers. If IBM demands
you work 24.1 hours for a week due to needs of the business then IBM is asking
you to violate your labor terms. File a complaint with your local Dept. of Labor.
If we had our union in IBM the Alliance could enforce this for you with a contract
labor agreement. -TRRed-
Comment 06/15/12:
I have never considered a policy that would cause me more work, cost me more
for benefits,affect my current or future employment or my current or future
compensation to be a joke. These things are extremely important to me and my
family so I support the Alliance in every way I can. IBM's poor to horrible
treatment of employees is not like passing a kidney stone, a lot of pain then
its gone. Until you take action the pain is not going to stop. IBM is not going
to suddenly return to IBM under the Watsons. Its not a passing fad. Understand.
I want IBM to do extremely well in the world. I want them to make massive profits.
I just want my fair share of them negotiated by the union on my behalf and ratified
by me and my coworkers as a labor contract. There is no power of one as an employee.
You can be replaced. Someone else can pretend to know what you know and management
is usually too stupid to know its not true and will let you go. your only protection
is to band together with your co workers for your common good. You know who
they are. The people IBM wants you to trash talk and destroy behind their backs.
The people IBM makes you compete against for your 1 percent raise. Whatever
it takes for you to not trust each other and work together to protect yourselves.
We used to help each other build skills. We used to believe the stronger we
all were the better off the company was. Now if you teach someone your skills
you just put your job at high risk. Trust me folks. The other way was lots better.
We actually looked forward to working together. What a concept. Unity. -Exodus2007-
Comment 06/14/12:
To -soon2bacquired-: IBM may say many things (and perhaps even make
promises) but none of them will be in writing. You are not an asset. The patents
and products of your company will be squeezed out for what they are worth, but
the employees are a cost they can do without. Read the postings here back through
the beginning of 2009. You'll see how IBM treats its workers. Plenty of people
here were brought into IBM through acquisitions and outsourcing.
-Backslash-
Comment 06/14/12:
To -soon2bacquired-: I was was working for Rational
Software when IBM bought us. I think many who post here were acquired by IBM.
Expect to spend increasingly more of your time doing unproductive
things, like "blue washing " your products and development tooling,
and expect to have less time to spend actually improving your products the way
your customers expect. Expect this to culminate in your products losing market-share
and being increasingly viewed as obsolete. Expect IBM to buy another product
in your space, or to develop their own alternative, and for your product to
increasingly be maligned within IBM, and for you developers to be painted as
the problem. Expect that when IBM says they develop software in an "agile"
manner, that what they mean by "agile " is "run as fast as you
can! " But they don 't usually actually mean agile, they mean some ineffectual
hybrid of waterfall and agile; you 're supposed to be agile-productive, but
be waterfall-planned. Expect IBM to pay lip-service to supporting open-source
products and tooling, but expect to need a lawyer 's approval before you can
use any open-source product not already on the official approved list.
Expect that to take months, and the answer likely to be "no". Expect
the software on the official approved list to very out-of-date. Expect everything
good that you liked about your old employer to go away. Expect everything about
developing software to become more difficult. Expect to learn more acronyms
than you ever thought existed. Expect to learn how little that "reviews"
-- also known as"PBC reviews " -- mean in IBM; your manager will now
have a quota of people they must rank as "underperforming ", and the
list of those ranked poorly often bears little resemblance to the people who
actually do underperform. Expect people that your old employer knew should never
be placed in charge of people, to become managers. Expect the most hideously
abusive managers in your group to be promoted. All of this isn 't going to happen
overnight. The blue wheels grind exceedingly fine, but not quickly. Expect it
to take about a year or two before it begins to so obviously suck, that you
will remember what I 've said. -irRational-
Comment 06/14/12:
Well, since I don't have a crystal ball of when I'd be laid off, it was hard
to do a comparison with the TTR plan. I am happy with my decision and don't
worry, 24 hours is all I will work. -TRRparticipant-
Comment 06/14/12:
"Instead of the tight-knit family of the past, many describe IBM's
campus today as a train full of anxious passengers. People are asked to get
off at each stop, but no one knows which stop theirs will be." http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1499244
-RememberWhen-
Comment 06/14/12:
-Sammy Boy- I bet IBM is going to sell it's
Clouds figuring then sun will shine for them by 2015 if they do. An ominous
sign of stormy skies for IBM 2nd QTR?
-anonymous-
Comment 06/14/12:
-soon2bacquired- If your company was a small acquisition with niche,
leading edge technology your okay for now job-wise I would say: IBM is buying
you as resource intellectual capital that IBM wants. Don't expect much help
or much training in the transition, your likely going to have to figure out
how "big blue" does business and what will be expected of you. Also
don't expect IBM to give you your old benefits in your former company if they
were better than what IBM offers or give you the seniority as an IBMer. But
that being said, you will be an IBMer once acquired. But if IBM only offers
you only a contractor instead of an employee then you better start looking for
your next full employment gig. Contractors in IBM are generally short-timers
who only fill gaps and cracks in the IBM business and cheaply at that. Ask anyone
who worked for Lotus before IBM "blue washed" them. Contact those
in IBM who were consulting in Price Waterhouse Coopers who were acquired by
IBM. Seriously, most folks acquired by IBM are not too happy when finally assimilated.
Once you see your former management chain that is now in IBM get pruned or purged
then you have an idea where your job status in IBM is going to be. You go from
being intellectual capital to unneeded expense or surplus. Good Luck to you!
Please join us in the Alliance too! -bought-
Comment
06/14/12: TO>>-TRRparticipant->>Did you
do an analysis of what you would get if your were laid off(Vacation Pay, months
of salary, pay until layed off)? If you took the package, then work only the
amount of time you are supposed to OR DEMAND OVER-TIME PAY for extra hours worked.
Good Luck, you will need it. -NO_KY-
Comment 06/13/12:
My company was acquired by IBM a little while ago, and are currently in transition
via 'blue washing'. I haven't been able to find much info/detailed accounts
about the actual process that IBM undergoes with an acquisition, and more importantly,
its employees. Since IBM has steadily been acquiring more and more companies,
can some of you (if you're lurking around here) share your story? Because the
current comments seem to pertain mainly to non-acquired IBMers, and/or IBMers
who've been with the organization for decades. -soon2bacquired-
Comment 06/13/12:
I was at the biggest Cloud Expo in NYC yesterday evening. There are major companies
from the industry showing off their clod offerings. Believe it or not, IBM was
conspicuously missing! What happened to IBM clouds ? biting the dust? Is cloud
team all laid off or offered TTR? -Sammy Boy-
Comment 06/13/12:
-anon- what you are seeing is a typical 2fer.He is forcing the retiree
out and will also do an RA during the year. -benthere-
Comment 06/13/12:
To -ResignedNotWorkingSaturdays-: I thought IBM couldn't stoop any
lower but this wins the prize. All the cost cutting and overtime reducing efforts
have cut into productivity. The quality of the work is decreasing. This is their
new tactic to beat the slaves into working more hours for free. This is just
disgusting. -dun-4-
Comment
06/12/12: -TRRparticipant- I hope you don't agree with
your manager even with your decision. Of course your manager is following Randy
MacDonald's folly. Are you an Alliance member or are you going to join to protect
your retirement benefits? -anon-
Comment
06/12/12: I took the Transition to Retirement program - my mgr
pretty much told me it was a good idea - i.e., I was gonna get laid off soon.
Only 2 of 10 people in our area took it. -TRRparticipant-
Comment 06/11/12:
This is not a cut, yet, but I've been asked to train someone, who's nationality
I've yet to determine, on the product I use and support. I've requested they
confirm they are a US citizen and alluded that if they are not there may be
legal issues with the transfer of this knowledge. Feedback? -Anonymous-
Alliance Reply: You have no authority to object to ANYTHING or REFUSE to do
anything IBM asks you to do, as long as you are an 'At Will Employee' (no union
contract). IBM WILL target you for dismissal, if you do not fulfill their request.
You might want to contact your state's department of labor with your concerns
also.
Comment
06/11/12: It doesn't matter who you are. You could have a high
school diploma, a bachelor's degree, a master's, or a phd. You are nothing in
the eyes of a corporate executive. Stand together to work for a future.
-SlapBackEcho-
Comment 06/10/12:
You have the power to control the profits of companies with the dollar you spend.
You got the power to change the way corporations think. Think about how powerful
your DOLLAR really is. If your services are targeted for the public/consumers
to consume, then your company is doom to fail when consumers stop buying your
products. That's how much power your DOLLAR has. But if your services and products
are targeted for the ELITE to consume, you are sure to stick around longer,
until the ELITE decide that you are no longer needed.
-Att.
J.D. Rockefeller
J.P. Morgan
Paul Warburg
Baron Rothschild-
Comment
06/10/12: OK Randy, you've had your little joke with this
"Transition to Retirement" program. Now how about offering IBM Employees
a realpackage?
Why in earth would he do that? Does doing so decrease IBM's
expenses? Or increase executive compensation packages? If not, why on earth
would anyone who's worked at this company think he has any desire or motivation
to do that? I'm frankly mystified why people who claim to be IBM employees
still yammer on about how the company ought to do this or that because "it's
the right thing to do". Hello!?! Where have you people been working?
Have you really learned nothing about your employer? Or any large employer
for that matter!? IBM will do what is good for IBM, and most especially what
is good for the people at the top of the IBM org charts. This magical thinking
that somehow IBM, or anyone at the top of IBM, will grow a conscience and
start behaving better towards their rank & file employees is delusional
thinking. They treat you badly because they can, without consequences. It's
that simple. And unless and until there are consequences for their bad treatment
of employees, they will continue to abuse you. Stop waiting for the cavalry
to ride over the hill and create consequences. It's not going to happen from
the outside. Whereas, everyone employed there can start creating consequences
today, by joining the union. You want IBM to treat you better? Then put yourself
in a position of being able to hurt them when they don't. And to be clear,
I'm not advocating violence. but if you're not able to make them pay a FINANCIAL
price for what they do, then stop expecting them to behave differently.
-irRational-
Comment 06/10/12:
To -All Hail Road Kill 2015-: I would take it as well!
-miss understanding-
Comment 06/09/12:
-road kill 2015- it may sound funny but I know 4 people who signed
up for the TTR plan. -beenthere-
Comment 06/09/12:
**What did you do with your weekend, I have an issue with what IBM demanded
of its employees today. There was a similar request in December.**
"We're declaring Saturday June 9th as an AMS work day and asking for
your active participation, we're calling this day, "Client Value Day".
This is an ADDITIONAL and consistent workday across AMS to provide capacity
for our teams to provide additional value to our clients, equally, this is an
opportunity for our efforts to contribute to incremental Q2 billing and utilization.
As with all regular work days, it is up to your Leadership Teams and your individual
efforts on how and if you will utilize the day to maximize team objectives.
The intent is to provide you with this additional day of opportunity to meet
your account and individual targets while providing client value. This will
also help you achieve or exceed your billable utilization to close off the 1st
half of the year. No challenge is without some recognition, obviously the priority
is for our clients, and our value is the incremental revenue to complete the
work to help us attain our targets - our top 10 chargeable utilization employees
who helped drive incremental revenue may be get an award."
Sent in many forms by multiple layers of management including the director.
-ResignedNotWorkingSaturdays-
Comment
06/08/12: OK Randy, you've had your little joke with this "Transition
to Retirement" program. Now how about offering IBM Employees a real package?
All you would have to do is offer U.S. employees one week's pay for each year
of service to resign or retire, and you'll have plenty of takers, including
myself. Just make sure you're not standing near an exit door when you announce
it, because you'll probably get trampled in the stampede! Hell, you might even
be remembered as someone who actually came around at the end of his IBM career
and finally did something right by the employees. Do you really want to be remembered
in the Rogues' Gallery of Incompetent IBM HR Directors right next to the infamous
J. Thomas 'Socks' Bouchard who screwed everyone out of their rightfully earned
pensions? Do the right thing for once in your god-forsaken life, Randy!
-All Hail Road Kill 2015!-
Comment 06/08/12:
"Some people have gotten these on December 1st, every year since the"fun"
began."
...And if your last day is Dec. 30 after 30 days they take all of what your
GDP might have been. IBM: the ultimate company for NO RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.
-anonymous-
Comment 06/07/12:
-Buyer Beware!- Taking the TRP (Transition to Retirement) is just agreeing
to a pay cut to help IBM make more greedy profits. IBM will find ways to still
get you to work more hours for less and less all with empty promises that are
sheer deception. IBM knows most will not agree to the TRP so then they use this
to calculate the next RA. They want employees to blame those eligible for the
TRP who don't take it for those not eligible for the TRP losing their job in
an RA. Divide and conquer. Let's see an IBM executive take the TRP. Let's see
some leadership by example. -TRPed Up-
Comment 06/07/12:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/outsourcing/240001640
IBM, NFL End Tech Partnership
Whatever it was that soured the relationship between Big Blue
and the NFL clearly developed within the past several weeks. As recently as
mid-April, IBM held a press soiree in New YorIBM, NFL End Tech Partnership
[...]
The deal is the latest in a series of high-profile tech services engagements
that IBM has either been let go or walked away from. Sources said that in
March, Disney handed off a $100 million contract, which had previously been
with IBM, to Indian outsourcer HCL. IBM was also terminated from a contract
to provide services to Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration,
prompting a lawsuit and countersuit between the parties that remains ongoing.IBM,
NFL End Tech Partnership
[...]
A source at one state agency that had problems with an IBM contract recently
told InformationWeek he felt that the company did not devote enough manpower
to his organization. IBM has reduced U.S. headcount considerably in recent
years as it ramps up its use of offshore personnel in regions such as South
Asia and Latin America.
[...]
A source at one state agency that had problems with an IBM contract recently
told InformationWeek he felt that the company did not devote enough manpower
to his organization. IBM has reduced U.S. headcount considerably in recent
years as it ramps up its use of offshore personnel in regions such as South
Asia and Latin America. -IBM Bites the Dust Again-
Comment 06/06/12:
Money rules everything in the USA these days. Votes can be bought more so now
than ever. With the Republican Party backed by corporations, how will fairness
ever prevail? -Anonymous-
Comment 06/06/12:
Points to ponder. What counteracts corporate greed? A union contract fairly
negotiated so the corporation makes a fair ammount of money and so do the employees.
If you do not believe this simple solution why are you here? The greatest generation
understood it and through their unions ushered in the longest period of prosperity
this country has ever seen. Non union companies used to match most union benefits
so they could hire good people away from unions. Why have the American Workers
forgotten this? Were our grandparents really that much wiser than us with their
minimal schooling? I would say yes at this point. Stand united.
-Exodus2007-
Comment 06/06/12:
Heads Up! One of our Coworkers in Facilities at IBM East Fishkill NY who is
66 Years of Age yesterday was about to sign up for the transitional retirement
program and found out the last minute that "yes" He was still expected
to work Weekends and told management that under those circumstances to shove
it were the sun doesn't shine! Don't be a fool and sign up for this one.. As
mentioned just another tactic to reduce the US head count!! -Buyer
Beware!-
Comment 06/06/12:
Hello all, I'm the person who was let go from 1G in Mid-May with an end date
of June 29. I wanted to check back and let everyone know that as of today, June
6th, I have not heard of any more being let go from my team. I guess I'm the
only one selected for this quarter, but as I said I am only one of three US
employees left on this team. If I hear anything more before my end date I'll
be sure to report back. So far, nothing else though - but I didn't want to leave
everyone hanging wondering what had happened. -Gone Baby Gone-
Comment 06/05/12:
"BTV state WARN notified". WARN notifications are public. Does anyone
have a link to actual notification, or has anyone received the notification?
-BTV'er-
Alliance reply: We have not seen a notification and
we have sources tracking the validity of this report.
Comment 06/03/12:
These are the people you're doing business with, IBM Management:
http://news.yahoo.com/china-cracks-down-tiananmen-anniversary-063035898.html
-Anonymous-
Comment 06/03/12:
"BTV state WARN notified... impending RA in June?" OldTurk: Rumor
has it that IBM will slash another 500-1000 jobs in BTV in June. IBM was trying
to get people to retire but no one is signing up for program. The IBM hatchet
will fall in June in BTV. Stay tuned. -GreenMountainMan-
Comment 06/02/12:
When IBM makes record profits, and stock hits all time highs and EPS goes up,
IBM employees suffer with no pay raises, dwindling benefits from broken promises,
increased workloads, and continued resource actions. When IBM stock goes down,
profits go down, and EPS goes down just a penny, and revenues dry up, employees
will lose jobs in record numbers that will make 2009 look quite pale by comparison.
Let's see if this pans out thus month. 2nd QTR is about 2/3 over. Is IBM's run
finally over? -anonymous-
Comment 05/29/12:
A couple of thoughts which have crossed my mind:
1) as previously noted, you might have a job for the next
18 months but it might not be a job you want (although as I understood it,
that was the premise of the never laid off anyone days) ... if there wasn't
your work available, you might find yourself pushing a broom around the plant.
2) as previously noted, you are still going to be required
to perform to whatever level is acceptable to management, which usually means
whatever level is one step above above the point the beancounters have determined
is be cost effective for the company. Also, it's a forever moving target.
3) if you do accept this offer, you have nothing in writing,
meaning nothing signed, to show that both you and the business acknowledge
and accept each other's agreements, "rights", and so on and so forth.
4) if, for whatever reason, the business decides over the
next 18 months that you a liability that must be removed, regardless of the
(unsigned, non existant) agreement you both have made, your job may be moved
to somewhere you'd prefer to not work. If you don't take it, there is the
reason the business will possibly use to remove you for cause.
5) as previously mentioned, you DO still hold YOUR option
to leave whenever you wish to do so, up to and including 12/31/13, the only"guarantees"
are that the business will not lay you off as part of a Resource Action and
you will not be an employee on 1/1/14.
6) as previously noted, the $1K worth (at that time) stock
distribution in '10 did not vest until 2015. You will lose that, since you
will no longer be an employee. Where it goes at that time is probably going
to be the pot the business already owns; it conceivably could go to the executives
pockets, but that's by and large irrelevant since you're not going to have
it.
7) if you DO work more than 60% of your old hours, you have
only yourself to blame for not taking a stand against that. -THINK-
Comment 05/29/12:
In regards to the $1000 stock put aside for 2015: Don't hold your breath for
it. Who cares about the fine print? if any? IBM will do what it wants, when
it wants as long as you have no union contract in real print!
-IBMUnionYES-
Comment 05/29/12:
Remember that $1000.00 in the USA is more like 10,000 dollars in India, or 15,000
in China, in terms of income and even purchasing power. The stock grant is a
retention program for our 3rd world replacements who often flee IBM after a
short tenure for better paying jobs in their countries. IBM Execs are giving
them a pathetic incentive to stick around for 3 more years, but by that time,
wage inflation in those countries will make the option grant irrelevant even
in the 3rd world. -Anonymous-
Comment
05/28/12: Curious about the $1000 in stock put aside in 2010
(their excuse for lowering the annual March bonus) that is supposedly being
given to employees that manage to make it to 2015. Was there anything in the
fine print about what would happen to the pool of stock that isn't distributed?
Why do I have a sneaking suspicion that it won't go back to the company but
instead will be awarded to the Armonk execs? -Tell-Me-This-Wasn't-Planned-
Comment 05/28/12:
@Neal -- The Transition to Retirement Program says "You agree to retire
on December 31, 2013 - or earlier, if you choose to do so.". Please post
facts here to keep people educated.-Anonymous-
Comment 05/28/12:
Hope everyone has a safe and peaceful Memorial Day. I remember the IBMers who
are our veterans alive and departed. Please remember them too. Please no one
say Happy Memorial Day. That is almost like saying have a Happy RA. -anonymous-
Comment
05/26/12: Another March RA person here, once you get opnto the
linkedin and monster.com etc, you will get calls from Indian recruiters, usually
they are for jobs in other locations, or areas much too far to commute, I am
taking the approach that when I get the call, get them to send email, respond
with current resume, and specific locations for positions, most times, they
move on, however, 1/10 will do due diligence, and find things in the area, use
all the respurces at hand, yes recruiters have offshored as wel, use what you
got, I had second interview, once you get past the initial phase, it will lead
to more directed contacts and interviews, work in progress. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/26/12:
-outta here- I agree 100% as the same thing happened to me. Management
was giving me more work, which routinely included skills in higher bands and
even beyond the scope of my job family. Any response from me was answered with
"Your not being a team player" or "Sorry, we don't have anyone
who can help you". So I took advantage of still getting a paycheck and
looked outside IBM. I landed an opportunity that not only fit my skills perfectly,
but also increased my paycheck. As with you, I gave management my two weeks
notice and the 180-degree difference by management was comical to watch. They
scrambled to get someone for me to transition all my knowledge to, asked if
I could extend my departure, wanted to know why I was leaving, etc. It's like
they truly believe IBM is the ONLY IT company out there and we are fortunate
to be employed by them. During this process I realized just how much they psychologically
make their employees believe this dogma to the point the workers will do anything
to hold onto their jobs. My advice: either join the Alliance or use your IBM
paycheck to start looking elsewhere. Whatever your choice, do it NOW.
-long_gone-
Comment 05/25/12:
Question to Allianz ---
Does Allianz reach out to people via social media such as reditt or digg ? I
just figured if mainstream media is not proactive with publishing news, may
as well go down the reditt way which is free as well. -redittNews-
Comment 05/25/12:
Hmmmmm..."In return, enrolled employees agree to retire on or before Dec.
31, 2013" OR BEFORE? So much for any guarantee... -Neal Watkins-
Comment 05/25/12:
Get ready for a large RA action in the Dallas/Ft Worth area come mid June. The
local press is reporting IBM and H/P which was EDS in the Dallas/Ft Worth area
is going to have a large head count reduction in Dallas/Ft Worth service side
of the business. -ANA-
Comment 05/25/12:
Top CEO pay equals 3,489 years for typical worker:
http://news.yahoo.com/top-ceo-pay-equals-3-489-years-typical-100654148--finance.html
-99 Percenter-
Comment 05/25/12:
BTV state WARN notified... impending RA in June? -OldTurk-
Comment 05/24/12:
Was part of recent RA.. Have been contacted by recruitment from India for IBM
contract jobs. That business model is comical.. There is much more out there
than IBM.
As much as the culture internally promotes fear and the theme that your "lucky
to have a job in this market", its just not true.. I found better employment,
better benefits and better salary in less than 4 weeks of being "RA'd"
and actively looking. So, if you elect to complain or are waiting for a severance
that may not come.., do the following: Join the Alliance and/or move on. Take
things for what the are.... Big IBM doesn't care about me, you or any of us.
PS-Good luck to everyone still there or about to get cut! -C'Yah-
Comment
05/23/12: May 31st? It doesn't matter. It could be that day
or a week, month, or year later. If you don't prepare for it, make plans, and
do something about it, it will not matter. Sitting there day after day accomplishes
nothing. Stop being pawns. -SlapBackEcho-
Comment 05/23/12:
Folks - signings down, revenue flat to down, = more RA's in US - they truly
have to shrink another 20K US employees for the roadkill. -more
RA's-
Comment 05/23/12:
To -Harry- I was in 1G.
To -Stop the Madness- No, I do not qualify for the Transition to Retirement.
I have not heard of anyone else getting notice as of today 5/23. Then again,
I am one of only three left on my team in the US. We lost the rest of our US
workers 3/29. I really think I found out with 6 weeks notice because I kept
asking. I knew it was coming, I just wanted to know when.
To -Kicked to curb- that's actually pretty standard that they can only
verify dates and not give references. I'd ask co-workers for references instead.
Sorry I don't have more info on other divisions or groups affected, but I will
keep my ears open and report back anything I hear, and any more RAs in my department.
-Gone Baby Gone-
Comment
05/23/12:
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/technology/1205/gallery.tech-layoffs.fortune/?iid=GM
-Your Media Representation-
Alliance reply: Notice this list is for "ailing" companies. The media
doesn't consider IBM ailing, so they are not on this list. Having said that,
it should be noted that IBM has shed over 70,000 US jobs in the past 10 years.
The media is missing this story even though the Alliance has contacted all of
them.
Comment
05/22/12: -nowornever- if they did that, all would
be above a certain age, and a huge lawsuit risked.. if they care
-Age-discrim-
Comment 05/22/12:
See posting below about an "early" retirement plan. What about those
folks (like me) that were near retirement in Feb 28 bloodbath...COULD THIS BE
RETROACTIVE TO THAT GROUP?
News
IBM retirement plan promises jobs through 2013
By Patrick Thibodeau
May 21, 2012 06:00 AM ET1 Comment. What's this?.Computerworld - IBM is offering
employees who are nearing retirement, and who might be worried about layoffs,
a one-time opportunity to participate in a program that would guarantee their
employment through Dec. 31, 2013.
The program, called "Transition to Retirement,"
would cut workers' hours and pay. But employees would continue to receive
certain benefits, including company contributions to their 401(k) accounts,
until the guarantee's expiration date.
According to a letter addressed to IBM managers, the program
"offers participants 70% of their pay for working 60% of their schedule."
Employees enrolled in the program would be exempt from any "resource
actions" -- meaning layoffs. In return, enrolled employees agree to retire
on or before Dec. 31, 2013.
The letter was received by the Alliance@IBM/CWA Local 1701
union, which made it available. IBM confirmed the letter's contents.
At the end of 2011, IBM employed 433,236 people worldwide,
up from 426,751 in 2010. In the U.S. specifically, IBM has been reducing its
workforce; the most recent cutback occurred in February, according to the
union. In 2006, IBM employed around 127,000 in the U.S.; now, that number
is said to be around 94,000. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/22/12:
Know why IBM wants to hire more women in India? So they can pay them less than
Indian men IBMers. IBM women never make the same amount as men. No matter what
IBM HR can say about it: they lie. Maybe IBM will make Ginny the example but
one woman CEO doesn't make gender pay equality in IBN! I'm not a woman: I'm
a man. And I am tellin the truth. -pay not
=-
Comment 05/22/12:
What's to stop IBM from selecting all those that qualify for the Transition
to Retirement to be forced to take it? It then becomes another flavor of an
RA -nowornever-
Comment 05/22/12:
Only GMUs will see an MBA? What are GMUs?
-anonymous-
Alliance reply: "Growth Market Units" like the BRIC's. Don't ya love
IBM acronyms?
So are US IBM employees going to sit back and go another year without a raise?
Comment 05/22/12:
"If an RA happens on 6/29, people will be notified 30 days prior, or
5/31/12"
I would think that the earlest RA notification would be mid June, as the
Trans 2 retirement last day is June 5th. Given 2 weeks to finalize the count
and what more reduction is required for 3Q, then the RA would be executed...
-Ich Bin Muede-
Comment 05/22/12:
Sent a email to my old boss asking if I could use her as a reference. Her response:
"We are unfortunately unable to provide any references for employees who
have left, we can confirm your dates of employment with IBM But that's the extent
of what we can do as IBM Managers." -kicked to curb-
Comment 05/21/12:
@Really? - Decision is already made: No MBA in 2012 for major markets (US, Canada,
UK, Germany, France, Nippon,...). Only GMUs will see an MBA. I guess this will
make many good people in major markets leave IBM. Well, no doubt, that's what
IBM wants. -NoMBA-
Comment 05/21/12:
Now it looks like we have run out of qualified women in US and IBM is having
a preferential drive in India to recruit women. I am not against recruiting
women, can't IBM recruit in US? http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/careers/job-trends/IBM-wants-to-hire-more-women-in-India/articleshow/13356111.cms
-Anon-
Comment 05/20/12:
If an RA happens on 6/29, people will be notified 30 days prior, or 5/31/12.
For the 3/28 RA, we were given 30 days notice on 2/27. Managers did not call
those who were safe, only those who were got RA'd. -IBMer No More-
Comment 05/20/12:
The untold story (or at least one that is rarely mentioned) is how many will
gladly sell out their co-workers and their souls just to keep their jobs with
IBM a few short months until the next RA. There is so much political manuerving
going on to retain one's position that I am surprised it not a main topic on
this board. Of course, management is using the situation where co-workers turn
on each other while getting cozy with managment to their advantage.
-Black Velvet-
Comment 05/20/12:
I know of a successful lawsuit, but the settlement required the ex-employee
to agree to confidentiality. Once he signed he could not talk anymore. I don't
know the amount, but I know it was a LOT bigger than 6 months severence.
-anonymous-
Alliane Reply: You've just made the same point that Alliance has been making
for some time: Individual employee lawsuits against IBM are 1)time consuming
2)legally costly 3)are rarely decided in the employees' favor and 4) Final decisions
and outcome are rarely made public.
OTOH, When IBM employees organize a majority of IBM employees to force the company
to hold a union election; the odds of the union winning gets much better, and
the results will be public. IBM
will hate that. IBM would hate to have their true image exposed by their own
US employees.
Comment 05/20/12:
To Old and Tired: There have been some wins against IBM but IBM usually settles
out of court to keep bad IBM news coverage out of the press. Also, when IBM
does settle out of court and you take the money the terms are that you keep
your mouth shut or you give the money back. IBM has its ways to keep this kind
of bad IBM news off this board and out of the press. -ALittleBirdieToldYou-
Comment 05/20/12:
Most will find out next week ... division/groups impacted? -To Gone
baby gone!-
Comment 05/20/12:
Question for Gone baby gone!...were you invited to Transition to Retirement?
-Stop the madness-
Comment 05/19/12:
To -SSR-: Perhaps IBM is breaking FLSA law? If they want to try apply exempt
employee rules for non-exempts then they need to work in a 15% pay increase
for those SSRs who got 15% pay decrease. I wonder how this Transition to Retirement
program works for non-exempts since the work schedule pay is based on hourly
and not weekly schedule. IBM HR didn't think this program through which surprises
us all how? -OldMcDonaldsFarm-
Comment 05/19/12:
Worsening global economy = less IBM profits = bad IBM quarterly result = accelerating
USA RAs IBM upper management has no other clue on how to react to news it can't
handle other than to continue to cost cut it's way into history. This is gonna
happen. We can try to do something about it: We need to all join the Alliance
and expose IBM poor leadership and try to save our existence, our jobs. We have
to force this IBM regime out for changes needed for IBM's survival. Otherwise,
I'm afraid it is all over by 2015. -AnonUnionSupporter-
Comment 05/19/12:
Gone baby gone: can you tell us what division your in? -Harry-
Comment 05/18/12:
Got the word today that June 29th is my last day. I was bugging them to tell
me so I think I may have found out extra early, but I heard that most will find
out next week. Good luck all! -Gone baby gone!-
Comment 05/18/12:
It appears SSR management is making up their own rules for the Transition to
Retirement program for the non-exempt SSR's. They are trying to apply Exempt
employee rules. It sure looks like they are doing their best to discourage the
program for SSR's! -SSR-
Comment 05/18/12:
Question: Has anyone ever sued IBM over an RA and won? If so, do they go back
to work at IBM or was it monetary settlements? This info would be helpful to
folks. -OLD AND TIRED-
Alliance reply: Alliance has not ever seen a successful lawsuit regarding RAs.
If there was one, it's a mystery why it wasn't posted here or covered in the
Press. That said, IBMers in the US are "At Will Employees". That means
IBM can fire IBMers for 'any reason or no reason' without notice; conversely,
IBMers can quit IBM 'for any reason or no reason' without notice. There aren't
too many lawyers that will tell you any different, than what we've been telling
IBMers for 13 years. This is the best answer to your question and the most help
that this answer can give you. The way to avoid wondering about lawsuits for
RA's, Age discrimination, stolen pensions, canceled benefits, and shabby treatment
in the IBM workplace, ....is to win a contract that IBMers, through a concerted
union effort, are able to negotiate at the collective bargaining table. There
IS NOT ANY PROECTION from the Labor dept. or even the Congress, Supreme Court
or the Presidency if you are an "At Will Employee". That may seem
harsh and sobering; but it's the truth. Oh and one more thing: IBM can break
their own rules, anytime they want to. You have no recourse, legally.
Comment 05/18/12:
-Cooler _King-: good points! IBMers have to know if the majority of
them are not happy with the policies and actions being done by IBM then there
must be some effort somewhere to try to deal with it. IBMers have to THINK.
If they do then they will find the way and ultimately find that the Alliance
is the best way to deal with the unhappiness working at IBM and dealing with
RAs on a continual basis. So any employee saying they haven't heard of the Alliance
hasn't been thinking or searching hard enough. -anonymous-
Alliance reply: Even a simple Google search for "IBM employees" brings
up the Alliance web site.
But we still need email lists of employees to help in our outreach, and for
alliance supporters to actively recruit new members.
Comment 05/18/12:
As the culture of corporate America started changing to its current path of
executives first and everyone else second even the executives themselves understood
that you just couldn't trust a corporate entity to treat you fairly no matter
what they may or may not have done in the past. Thus was born the emplyment
contracts with Golden Parachutes for executives. Executives are in their lofty
positions because they understand business and how corporations work. And they
do not trust them one little bit. Why do we as employees and ex employees waste
our time trying to second guess them? We should give them the credit they deserve
and learn from them before its too late. We should collectively get our own
employment contracts with benefits, bonuses and severance and retirement packages
defined in them. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. The faster
the "99%" realize that the only way to change corporate America's
culture is through labor unions the faster America will recover. You simply
cannot legislate fair treatment.You cannot expect someone to negotiate in good
faith if nothing forces them to the bargaining table. If Nascar removed all
design and engine restrictions why would a crew chief restrict his car in any
way? It would be silly to do so, so to think that IBM is going to stop squeezing
profits out of your pockets and stop working you like a dog just because its
not fair to you or that someone outside of IBM is going to force them to stop
is equally as silly. Stop being a victim. If you want to occupy something to
help your cause occupy the union voting booth. This applies not just to IBM
but every job in America. Stop playing the helpless victim. JOIN and RECRUIT.
-Exodus2007-
Comment 05/18/12:
I've been at IBM for many years, watched countless resource actions. Good people
getting thrown out like garbage, with mgmt not even waving goodbye. So I see
the handwriting on the wall and go find myself a new job with great opportunity
and even a better salary. Send in my two weeks notice and you wouldn't believe
the execs coming out of the woodwork asking "Why are you leaving, can you
fill us in, have you really thought this out, we can't believe you are quitting
IBM." The audacity is unreal, just shows how out of touch the leadership
is with the underlying morale of the very company they are supposedly leading.
But I suppose they are too busy counting their restricted stock units to even
notice the psyche of the folks who actually do the work. Keep your heads up
folks, the I/T job market is improving and there are greener pastures out there.
I can vouch for that. -outta here-
Comment 05/18/12:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/h1b/240000569
Alliance mentioned -member-
Comment 05/18/12:
-russ- I see this as applying to joining the Alliance...that is, individuals
making a choice between 'working their own individual deal' and joining a group
to get it done. The psychology of prisoners trying to escape and cooperating
with each other, equates to the 'union' dilemma. The 1963 movie, "The Great
Escape" is a good example. it clearly shows attempts that fail; but the
"prisoners" continue to try again, because they KNOW their fate otherwise.
This is true with IBMers that believe they will survive RA's if they"do
things" IBM's way; knowing in the back of their mind that they too, will
get RA'ed eventually. IBMers that visit this site, pro-union or anti-union are
aware of the truth. Yet, some comments that have appeared here in the past,
suggest that there are IBMers that don't know Alliance exists. The ignorance
of IBMers NOT knowing, never quite shrinks in proportion to the RA's that occur.
Why? Because those IBMers that find out about Alliance don't tell their co-workers
that they know out of fear of being 'caught' and immediately put on an RA list.
If a few IBMers with the "Great Escape" ideas and notions were to
form a committee and reach out to IBMers that DON'T know Alliance exists; but
are silently suffering from the fear of an RA just like everyone else...then
the process to change EVERYONE's situation could truly escalate and IBM would
'lose' their grip of fear as a tool to destroy US IBM jobs. THINK about it...
-Cooler_King-
Comment
05/18/12: -Just the Beginning- ,
Fishkill management has a history of making non-exempts work overtime and not
letting them code it. Public response from a third line was if you do not like
it perhaps you should rethink your long term goals. They know it is illegal
but they hold the cards and own the labor department in New York.
-Ex-Fishkill-
Comment 05/17/12:
You are an "At Will Employee". You can be a 1 performer and they can
fire you for no cause at all. Severance is also up to IBM -goodbye-
Comment 05/17/12:
Transition to Retirement is really the classic "Prisoner's Dilemma"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner%27s_dilemma
How to put 2 people, or groups, against each other. The
sad thing is that even if you are aware that's what they are doing it still
usually works. In this case, its RA or NO Ra. Take the "deal" and
get NO RA, but the other guy/group, if they don't "take the deal"
is then looking at a possible RA downstream. The only way to beat it is for
nobody to take the "deal". If enough people take the TRIP, they guarantee
the ones who didn't, will end up Getting RA'd as the number left is small enough
to "hide" inside a bigger RA group so its harder to prove age discrimination.
We either all hang together or we will for sure "hang" separately.
-russ-
Comment 05/17/12:
In GBS, utilization numbers are in the toilet. Expect demands to work Saturday
-Anon-
Comment 05/17/12:
Was just given a heads up that IBM Canada has cancelled the pay increase program
and profit sharing program for 2012. So other than actually cutting our pay
(which will be next for sure) they have taken away everything that they can...
We have already lost OT, weekend and on call pay a long time ago. Can't wait
to see the few good people that are left now leave. No good reason to work for
IBM Canada anymore. :-( -Really?-
Comment 05/15/12:
I got dropped end of march in the big GTS resource action. Talked to mentor,
and friends, bascially after this last resource action, it is no longer about
what can I do to avoid the next actions, they are really seeing the writing
on the wall. IBM is going to dump people. They have not given raises in several
years, this past year, managers ( they do look at Alliance website) basicaly
1st line managers give you a 2 or 1 , they get told by upper mgmt to reduce
all PBC 's by one , they are artificially finding ways to get rid of people.
There is an IBM BUBBLE, so keep stock for time being, let them artificially
raise stock price, but 2015 or maybe late 2014, then all of us that have stock,
wait until it peqks then sell, because the IBM after 2015 is going to be a crap
Yahoo. On the current course, they will fail, ask people to retire, make promises
they will not keep. They are betting on filling the gap with Indian and Chinese
that provide crap. IBM is a bubble, They will be the next Netscape
-Anonymous-
Comment 05/15/12:
At IBM East Fishkill facilities meeting management was overheard commenting
on "we have to tighten our belts" regarding future cost cutting measures.
Next thing we are being told that there will be no additional overtime under
any circumstance.The following week we are being told that Weekend Saturday
and Sunday overtime is now being taken away and if you worked the weekend you
must take two regular days off during the following week to cancel additional
salary cost. Work is still expected To be completed with limited manpower and
some employees are now working through their lunch breaks to meet work projections.
No different then retail marketing. Another erosion of IBM benefits.Work more
and get paid less !! -Just the Beginning-
Comment 05/15/12:
Thanks to all who answered my questions. I appreciate it. -Discouraged
in Littleton-
Alliance reply: Alliance membership is open to all ex-IBM employees.
This site was useful for you. Please join. Membership is confidential.
Comment 05/14/12:
Big cuts are coming to WebSphere Commerce, second half of the year. Jobs are
going to India -WC-
Comment 05/14/12:
Rumors has it that IBM Canada will be shipping some of it phone support platform
jobs to the Middle East -fedup-
Comment 05/13/12:
-Discouraged in Littleton- Actually IBM can do anything it wants. Your
an At Will Employee. Repeat: The FHA is not part of a severance agreement with
IBM. And severance is given only "at the will" of the corporation.
From my understanding, if you are a PBC 3 and are not fired with cause (meaning
your part of an RA) and you meet the criteria for the FHA, you will qualify
for it at this time. If you don't meet the criteria (even if you are a PBC 1)
you lose it as part of an RA. You will also typically get a severance if you
are not terminated with cause. However, you might get the reduced severance
package (1 weeks pay per year of service, maximum of 13 weeks). Particularly
like those on the "improvement plan". Don't be so hung up on the FHA.
As I mentioned it will not give you much of anything if you do get it if you
decide to retire. Don't concern about whether a PBC 3 will get you a severance.
Protect your present job. Get organized. Get a contract. Get it in writing.
Join the Alliance NOW! Then you can rest easier if you decide to retire since
your retirement benefits will be protected by a union contract. -da_facts-
Comment 05/13/12:
In response to -Discouraged in Littleton-, and based on my understanding
of IBM's policies, qualification for FHA is based solely on employee age and/or
years of service. PBC ratings have no bearing on qualification and a "3"
PBC rating would not necessarily preclude an employee from receiving FHA, if
one is otherwise qualified for this benefit. Also, based on my discussions with
those "selected" (and I use that term deliberately) for the most recent
mass-firing in the U.S., employees being fired have continued to receive one
week of severance pay for each year of service in return for signing a Covenant
Not to Sue (i.e. an Agreement not to file a lawsuit against IBM over being fired).
However, to reiterate what has already been said in other comments, all benefits
are provided SOLELY at the discretion of IBM Management. As things stand right
now, IBM Management can lock you out of their property with absolutely NO notice,
and send you packing with no severance pay, medical benefits, or anything else
for that matter. The only way an employee in an at-will work environment (which
IBM is, at least under New York State law) has any guarantees about ANYTHING
is through a contract between the employee and their employer, which is generally
negotiated through collective bargaining (e.g. through Union representation).
-Hope this Helps-
Comment 05/12/12:
Press Release: IBM - Thu, May 10, 2012 3:31 PM EDT
New IBM Delivery Center Opens in Costa Rica
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-delivery-center-opens-costa-193100358.html
-Hasta.la.Vista-
Comment 05/11/12:
Not sure how they are making the decision as to who is chosen for the Nautilus
Program. I think upper management sends the word downward that each group has
to come up with X people. As to who is chosen, it seems the 1st level makes
the decision, possibly with some guidance regarding criteria for selection,
but I am merely speculating now, based on what I've seen. The program would
not be so bad if it did not include the part about refusal of an offer resulting
in TERMINATION. To me, this means "fired for cause" with NO SEVERANCE
and NO UNEMPLOYMENT. As to just taking the travel job and sitting on thumbs,
this also could result in a 3 and termination, right? It seems they are putting
you in a position of being forced to quit. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/11/12:
-da_facts- Thanks for your information about FHA. My understanding
is that if I retired today, then I would qualify for it. However, that's not
the question I asked. What I would like to know is: For those who were qualified
for FHA and who were recently RA'd with a 3 appraisal rating, did they lose
the FHA that they were qualified for. And were the most recent RA'd 3's given
severance. I'm not asking what IBM has the right to do, I'm asking what they
actually DID in the most recent RA's for those appraised as a 3.
-Discouraged in Littleton-
Comment
05/11/12: -Discouraged in Littleton-: The
FHA is not part of an IBM severance package.
The Alliance has made it quite clear already what the FHA is..and isn't:
It is a notional account (it is not real money set aside for employees in an
account; it is only credits to buy health insurance through IBM). And so the
FHA is also not protected by law like a pension.
IBM can end the FHA at any time.
To qualify for the FHA, IBM employees need to have at least
15 years of service AND are at least 55 years old that are not under the old
retiree health plan.
If you do not meet both years of IBM employee service and
age you don't qualify for the FHA: you essentially lose it and don't get it
upon an RA or retirement.
Even for those that get the FHA it is only going to get you
a little retiree health insurance that will not last too long.
Let's put an end to the FHA discussion. The FHA is just a
small carrot that IBM is dangling in front of employees that are hoping to
hang on during the RA roadkills to 2015.
We need to be concerned with joining the Alliance and stopping
RAs now. -da_facts-
Comment
05/11/12: This is confirmation that there was a resource action
in Canada. Manager just told our team of the cuts, as the work was just assigned
to the remaining US employees for the team. Also told that as RA's continue,
the work will just go to those left. It was made clear the work would remain,
and have to be done, no matter how few employees were left on the team.
-Jaded-
Comment 05/11/12:
The sad thing is that I see IBM making a major mistake. The people that led
the company to glory are now being treated horribly. There are certainly some
quality workers in China and India, but from my experience, the vast majority
are not on par with the US engineers. They lack the customer and quality focus.
Not to mention, there is a lot more competition in the emerging countries, employees
jump from company to company frequently. Personally, I've been buying IBM stock
for many years, but come 2015, I'm selling all of it. This bubble can't last
forever, I just need to time it right. The old saying that you get what you
pay for applies here. While there are a few gems in the emerging countries,
the bulk simply aim to please. IBM is deviating from the "Think" mentality
that Watson pushed. Eventually, it will come back and bite the company. I'm
saddened by this as there are some very talented engineers and scientists that
gave a lot of their life to IBM. It would be very difficult for me to recommend
a college grad to come to IBM at this time. Oh well, the new Republican American
is upon us... Either Americans rise up and change it, or we can expect all companies
to evolve into IBM... -Sad-
Alliance Reply: You make several good points; except that IBM has been "deviating
from the THINK mentality" while a Democrat is in the White House, too.
It isn't just the Republicans. The president has listened to IBM as if they
are doing right by America, when the opposite is true. The president, Democrats
and Republicans et al; need to listen to IBM US employees, instead of the IBM
Executive liars that are running the company into the ground. Visit our Twitter
page to view the tweets we've been making on this topic.
Comment 05/10/12:
This may be a trivial question but how does one get selected for the"Nautilus
Program"?
Flip of a coin. Run it by the Watson computer. Dart board. Ouija board.
Which manager has more clout or is higher in the pecking order, etc. Who knows?
If you don't join the Alliance does it really matter??? -trivius-
Comment 05/10/12:
Let me ask my question in a different way. In the most recent RA, did the employees
who were appraised as a 3 receive severance pay as a part of the RA ? Did they
lose their FHA? TIA -Discouraged in Littleton-
Comment 05/10/12:
-Discouraged in Littleton- The RA payment has been consistent and has
nothing to do with your prior rating. To the best of my knowledge, everyone
on the receiving end of IBM has received the same package regardless of their
PBC rating (I was RA'd in March with a most recent 2+ rating and nothing lower
than that in my career). The Management Initiated Separation Package is (or
was) 1 week pay per year of service, been a long time since I've seen the details
and can't remember the details or if there's a cap on the number of weeks. MISP
is the result of a low performer placed on a performance plan or 'measured mile'
with specific goals which must be met. If you're put on this plan, you're as
good as out the door. As others have pointed out, none of these programs are
guaranteed and you're not going to find them in writing, so your mileage may
vary. I have no insight into the FHA so can't speak to that question.
-LowlySDM-
Comment 05/10/12:
Is the TRIP program available to employees in India or Brazil? I'm just askin'...
-JustAskin'-
Alliance reply: It is not clear what programs available to US IBMers, are also
available to India or Brazil. Remember: TRIP is focusing on long term employees
eligible for retirement. The guess here is that neither country has many IBM
employees with 25 years of service or more; since IBM did not establish those
locations before 1995 at the earliest. Therefore, most of their employees from
either country would have less than 20 years service.
Comment
05/10/12: This is to answer "..If I'm railroaded into
a "3" appraisal and then RA'd, would I lose the RA severance and/or
my FHA? -Discouraged in Littleton-"
Sadly, you cannot LOSE what you never HAD. Only a
legal contract/law can force payment of severance. There is no such contract.
As an at-will employee, anything can happen to you. You
can be fired on the spot, no notice. Severance is not guaranteed, neither is
any other benefit, exception being if you have pension, then it's guaranteed
(??word??) by ERISA (protected I think).
If you are not joining the union because you think the
union doesn't do anything, cannot do anything, then you have the wrong idea
about unions. As a union member, we are united and stand together.
Most IBMers I talk with now (I am gone though) are just
stressing out over the questions of WHEN/IF it will happen to them, what if
anything will they be forced to do/sign, what will they/maybe be offered, etc.
It's hard to concentrate on work when you are constantly looking over your shoulder.
Open your eyes, sometimes equity improves although there
is no top line revenue. Where do you think the money is coming from? some from
buybacks, however understand that there is a big antique sale (we are the antiques).
I believe there is a model - future "ideal"
employee that the company is striving for. This is what I think would be the
attributes.
The model employee:
1. On call whenever needed, only paid when explicitly the task is tied to the
revenue stream/project (no downtime, no research time, travel time, education,
etc, employee does this on their own time).
2. Global salary - for all bands/levels.
3. Technical people are portable, disposable, pluggable (if you will). Skills
can be plugged into a project or short-long term engagement easily, then pulled
out and reassigned.
4. No pension or other long-term benefits, low-cost employees as much as possible.
The flawed logic that the myopic company leaders have is that
experience and knowledge are easily grown. This is not the case. It takes
years sometimes to grow the technical/other expertise needed for advanced
work in technology. There is no shortcut for this. This is why innovation
will diminish, and why IBM has to buy companies in order to grow. Also employees/professionals
will not tolerate being treated this way forever, and other companies will
harvest the employees from this company.
Sadly, there are execs I've met that really believe
that the plan will work. To them I ask a few questions:
1. If you need brain surgery, would you rather have
someone with a proven 25-year track record of experience, or someone with
the same "credentials" but did their learning through webcasts and
limited on-the-job training?
2. If you were building a company and needed quality
people, would you choose people who agree with you all the time (to keep their
jobs) or people who ask the hard questions and push forward, are not afraid
to make decisions even if unpopular?
IBM has become like civil service (when it was not so
great). -kicked_to_the_curb-
Comment 05/10/12:
So what's the deal with the new retirement snake-oil? If you don't know, here's
the breakdown...
The option offered is to work 18 months for 70% pay, aka: 18
months X ..7 = 12.6 months pay, (for 18 months work)and nothing more, end of
story.
So if you don't take this option and get fired some time afterwards
and are an older worker you typically get 26 weeks pay: aka: 6.5 month pay plus
unemployment for however many months your state provides, perhaps another 6-9months
which might be another 2-3 months of former pay.
So the choice comes down to 12.6 months with this new snake oil option and not
a penny more, or 8-9 months pay (package + unemployment) and potentially years
more. So not taking this snake-oil offer is risking the next 4 months income
at most and potentially not getting years more of pay if you want to keep working.
Of yes and as for working 60% of the time, that might be 3 days a week or more
likely 4 hours a day and hr knows that if you get a beamer in his chair for
4 hours it won't take much pressure to have him working full 8 hour days for
his new 70% pay scale. This is just another sleazy offer by hr scum.
-ibm-snake-oil-salesman-report-
Alliance reply: From what we have heard your 60% work time is based on what
you have already been working. If you have been working 60 hrs a week your new
work hours would be 40 hrs a week at 70% pay. Remember when a 40 hour work week
was the norm in America for full pay?
Comment 05/09/12:
Are there RA's going on in Canada? heard something through the rumor mill
-Anonymous in the North-
Comment 05/09/12:
LowlySDM - Thanks very much for the severance info. One other question if anyone
has the answer to. If I'm railroaded into a "3" appraisal and then
RA'd, would I lose the RA severance and/or my FHA? -Discouraged
in Littleton-
Comment 05/09/12:
This may be a trivial question but how does one get selected for the"Nautilius
Program", your immediate manager picks you if they do not want you in their
department or is that done by HR again based on your managerâ??s ranking
and/or your skills? -Anonymous-
Comment 05/09/12:
You have to realize that this Nautilus program is another "liquid player"
action by IBM. These employees are now short term employees without being told
they are. If you want to be a long term player in IBM you must try to organize
and get a contract that spells out your employment and it's conditions! JOIN
the ALLIANCE to do this. It is the ONLY WAY.
P.S. a nautilus is squid-like with no backbone, swims in oceans. Reference made
to IBM employees selected for this program perhaps is uncanny (' -da_facts-
Comment 05/08/12:
So you get transferred via Nautilus - and you don't get 6 months of severance.
If you go to the project and relax - be professional but don't kill yourself
- worst thing that happens is they terminate you after you've earned a few more
months of pay, best case is they RA you and give you the additional severance.
I realize you may have personal circumstances that make this undesirable but
if you can make it work for as long as you can there's no downside if you are
in a position to do so. -anonymous-
Comment 05/08/12:
Worrying about a pension that has not grown since 2007 instead of worrying about
saving your job by organizing is pretty silly. I would guess that less then
10 percent of remaining active employees have any claim to the frozen pension
so its really not an issue anymore to IBM. They have screwed 90 percent of you
out of it already and drasticly reduced it for those that kept it or will collect
it. For all intents and purposes you will have no medical unless you are medicare
age and the medicare coverage IBM provides actually said in its description
that you could buy better coverage with less out of pocket money elsewhere.
The only way the retirees lot in life would ever improve is if active employees
organized and forced raises or medical for retirees as part of their contracts.
As current employees do not even seem willing or able to organize to save their
own jobs I think the odds of this happening are slim to none. Its amazing that
IBMers know the code names and goals of all the management programs designed
to screw them over and they discuss them here like they are talking about baseball
games. I wonder why they pinch hit lefty. I wonder when Ginny will close down
the pension plan. Yet they do nothing to stop the oncoming personal crisis an
RA will have on them and their families. Its like they are watching someone
elses life unfold without caring that a disaster is coming and they see it and
do nothing even though its their own life! Have all of you really become the
disposable, interchangable work widgets IBM management has always dreamed of?
I am amazed by comments not just here but on TV and in daily conversations about
corporations can't do this or that. People are confused by the difference between
a union shop and an at will shop. Someone recently said their employer is getting
rid of older workers. Someone else asked how many years the person had. She
said 30 years. The other person said oh you should be safe. My wife said Why
should she be safe? Its non union. Seniority does not help in layoffs. In fact
its opposite in non union. The older more senior people are let go first because
they cost more. Both the other ladies went from looking shocked to appalled
when they realized she was right. Just because a Teacher gets tenure does not
mean a salesman does. Just because an autoworker faces layoffs by seniority
does not mean a bank teller does.
Understand that by law you are entitled to very little from your at will employer.
Severance is not gaurenteed by law. Just because your neighbor has an employment
contract does not mean you do. Learn what you are entitled to by law. Count
on nothing that is not in writing. Wake up and get a contract before it is too
late. -Exodus2007-
Comment 05/08/12:
-Discouraged in Littleton- The RA payout has traditionally been 1 week
of pay for every 6 months of service up to a maximum of 26 weeks pay. Anyone
that has completed 13 years of service or more is capped at 26 weeks of pay
plus their unused vacation. Always use personal choice holidays first before
using your vacation days. Nothing says IBM won't lower the severance in future
RAs. -LowlySDM-
Comment 05/08/12:
The "Nautilus Program" involves moving US resources to US GBS commercial
jobs, which may or may not involve travel. You are restricted to US GBS commercial
jobs, and should you get an offer from one of those, which could be anywhere
in the US, if you do not take it, we have been told it's grounds for termination
from IBM. No severance, no unemployment. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/08/12:
Here's my issue with the "Nautilus Program": It is a way of screwing
us out of an RA severance package. I would rather be RA'ed, but now I may instead
be terminated without severance (after 26 years) because I refuse to take a
travel assignment. I'm not one of those people to actively joined GBS and agreed
to travel - I ended up here via ISSC transition to GBS years ago. Furthermore,
many of these GBS travel assignments/contracts are notoriously unstable such
that contracts implode, causing you to spend time on the bench through no fault
of your own, which in turn guarantees an appraisal of "3" and/or RA,
anyway. What kind of life is that? So, yeah, Home Depot is hiring you say? Sign
me up. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/08/12:
The pension fund must be fully-funded for it to be closed and sold to an insurance
company. Certain things about your pension are guaranteed by law, but the annuity
can change. Our pension fund is at 94% funded, so it needs a few billion more
in monies added by IBM for the fund to be closed. If you are already collecting,
you are in the most secure place, and if you are within a one-year bridge, you
might be OK. Some things in that annuity may not remain, like early retirement
incentives that have been around since the early-90s. Once an insurance company
owns the plan, it's an annuity, not a pension. This is what I've gleaned from
the true pension experts, and some of it may be only partially accurate. An
annuity is not partially backed up by the US government like a pension is. Most
likely though, IBM will allow you to leave before a change in the pension. That
to them is the most short-term gain - getting you off the employee list. We
saw that recently with IBM UK, though their plan was a contributory plan, and
ours is not. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/07/12:
Is the "Nautilus Program" specifically moving resources only to IGS
commercial travel jobs or to GBS commercial travel jobs in general?
-To Anonymous-
Comment 05/07/12:
Umm, that "To" list people are trying to read into? It's really just
a limitation of the size of a NOTES distribution list, so they have list #1,
list #2 and so on. It has nothing to do with age. It's just how they break the
list into sizable chunks. They've been doing this for years. IBM does a lot
of stupid things, but sorry to burst your bubble, this ain't one of them...
-RA'ed in Jan '09-
Comment 05/07/12:
Poor management and executive management is a big issue. Family/friends put
unqualified family/friends into jobs. Promotions are not based on merit or skill,
but on relationships. If you complain, you become the problem. -.-
Comment 05/07/12:
Regarding FHA. If you retire and expect to cover children with FHA guess again.
IBM has gotten permission to exclude covering children of retirees from the
healthcare czars. The last year they would cover children it was $2300.00 per
month for a spouse and 2 children for the best coverage. Burns the old FHA up
in less then 3 years at that rate. Don't include FHA in your longterm retirement
plans as it won't last long enough to matter. My humble opinion of course.
-Exodus2007-
Comment 05/07/12:
Hey anonymous - Regarding your comment, "Consider that a business needs
to put workers where the work is, and for a consulting company the clients may
not always be in your backyard. That was the IBM life for many IBMers in all
my years there. So stop your whining. You have a job"
Your comment was pretty darn rude and unreasonable. There are
plenty of people who never applied for jobs with major travel requirements because
they could NOT work that kind of job. If you have some image of IBM workers
all being men with stay-at-home wives, or young single people, you may think
this is just dandy, but what about single mothers? What about parents who both
work for IBM and now must both travel? What about any employee with family commitments
with no second person around to handle the job? Many
people purposely never applied for these kinds of jobs because they are totally
unworkable for them. Also, that "Just be glad you have a job" line
has no place here, where people are struggling to keep their employer from beating
them into the ground. People deserve jobs with decent wages and benefits, with
stability and fair treatment. That's the purpose of the Alliance and this website.
I suggest you re-THINK calling people who are looking for a fair deal whiners.
-Anon-
Comment 05/07/12:
I'm eligible for the Transition to Retirement program. I received an email last
week informing me of the program and my eligibility for it. The next day my
manager spoke with me about it (I told her I wasn't interested) and first thing
this morning I received another corporate email making sure I'm aware of the
program. Since an RA is inevitable before 2015, I 'm curious what the last RA
severance payout was for each year of service. Does anyone know ? (I currently
have 22 years of service.) I'm really looking forward to leaving IBM. It's very
demoralizing working for a company driven by such extreme corporate greed and
with such disrespect for its employees. -Discouraged
in Littleton-
Comment 05/07/12:
for -IBM Mentat- IBM does invest in its workforce.. Ask anyone in Costa Rica,
Brazil, India etc .. Just dont ask a US worker. -reply
for Mentat-
Comment 05/07/12:
>From a post on Cringely:
[......]
In 1999, IBM froze the pension plan. Now they're pushing the last of the employees
on those old plans out. I remember reading some provision in the law whereby
once the number of people covered by a pension plan drops below some bar (number?
percentage?) a company can "cancel" their pension plan completely,
and remove it from their balance sheet. With the newly announced "transition
to" plan talking about it allowing improved business planning, I'm wondering
if 2014 is the year we'll see that happen? - a plan that's taken 15 years to
play out.
[.......] -Anonymous-
Comment 05/07/12:
"So the oldest person "offered" then could/might be 69 and
the youngest would be could/might be 45. Any statisticians out here? -Anon2-
"
Not possible to be 45... The youngest retire able age is 55 with 15 years,
so that would make the person 27 in 1985 when hired... So it could be the date
of hire... -Anonalso-
Comment 05/06/12:
This T-R-T plan is just the beginning. Watch for new levels of LOW when they
start firing for cause. Roadkill 2015/RA is HUGE expense for the bastards. Severance
is costing them too much money. Those who continue to make it through rounds
of RA will see that it will be more difficult get the severance when it is your
time. Continue the maze to Wipe out 2015. -GinniCanYouHearMe?-
Comment 05/06/12:
Kerin Flannery's mouthpiece sent this out late Friday (5/4): Folks (guess she
isn't familiar with the term "Fellow IBM Employees"), today, IBM has
signed a new lease to remain at the Huron campus for another three years (Funny
how that coincides with Road Kill 2015), with options to extend our agreement
(Right! More like good-bye IBM Endicott after 104 years). By November 1, 2012,
all IBM Endicott employees will be located in Building 256. It will be an IBM
only access building with a staffed lobby entrance, mobility area/guest space
and updated public conference rooms. There will be some construction necessary,
and office moves will be orchestrated in stages. The Endicott RESO team and
my office will be coordinating and communicating logistics throughout the upcoming
months. I appreciate your cooperation to make this consolidation successful.
-IBM Endicott Sardine-
Comment 05/05/12:
In response to On-The-Fence, and to further add to Poughkeepsie Engineer's comments,
FHA is NOT vested. IBM Management can eliminate this benefit ANY time they wish,
without prior notice. In fact, once Medical Insurance Exchanges become available
under the Healthcare Reform Law in 2014, I fully expect that IBM Management
will eliminate this benefit. Look for another e-mail from Randy around the end
of 2013 with some bizarre, twisted explanation about how HR is responding to
the requests of IBM employees and retirees by eliminating this benefit (not
to mention probably ALL retiree health insurance). Because, IBM Management,
out of the goodness of their hearts and in support of Health Care Reform, wants
to provide everyone with the opportunity to purchase insurance through the Exchanges
(using their own money, of course). Bottom line, it might be worth sticking
around to get the enhanced pension annuity, depending on your circumstances,
but I wouldn't stick around just for the FHA, because it probably won't be there
after next year. I know I'm certainly not counting on it. -Hope
this Helps-
Comment 05/05/12:
IBM is tightening the noose. Many of those of us on the IGS Global Account are
being forced to IGS commercial travel jobs. If we refuse, we have been told
we will be terminated without severance. The code name for this is "Nautilus
Program". -Anonymous-
Comment 05/05/12:
Dear On-The-Fence. Hanging around 20 months just for 2.5 years of Medical coverage
seems like a painful approach. You never mentioned whether you are already at
29+ years, it's obvious you aren't quite 55. So the additional pension bump
at eligibility can be as much as 20%. However the Transition to Retirement does
not guarantee against job-loss for other reasons besides an R/A. Don't underestimate
IBM upper-management and their sociopathic thinking. You poor person, you are
only a little more than 40 hours a week busy so that level of torpidity makes
you a target in this sick company. A healthy company would be worried about
how much work you would be leaving behind. But that's not how things work, here
on the death-star aka IBM. -Poughkeepsie Engineer-
Comment 05/05/12:
-ANON- you commented on 05/02/12: "did you notice the age
of the employees targeted form the "to list"
Employees - 061, Employees - 062, Employees - 063, Employees - 064, Employees
- 065, Employees - 066, Employees - 067, Employees - 068, Employees - 069, Employees
- 070, Employees - 071, Employees - 072, Employees - 073, Employees - 074, Employees
- 075, Employees - 076, Employees - 077, Employees - 078, Employees - 079, Employees
- 080, Employees - 081, Employees - 082, Employees - 083, Employees - 084, Employees
- 085 -ANON-
___________________________________________________________________________________________
I THINK it is more related to specific year HIRED though
AGE is related. I could not determine WHICH group I was specifically in above,
though I do know what year I was hired and how old I was in that year, this
year and how old I will be on 12/31/2013. It does strike me as weird that there
is ANYONE who is currently employed by the company, has 51 years in THIS year
and has NOT retired yet. Minimum age they would be IF they were 18 in 1961 would
mean they are 69 years old this year. Is that probable??? So the oldest person
â??offeredâ? then could/might be 69 and the youngest would
be could/might be 45. Any statisticians out here? -Anon2-
Comment 05/05/12:
The transition to retirement program costs IBM nothing. instead of paying 6
mos severence and unemployment, IBM gets the employee to work for an additional
year. Since it is "voluntary" it gets IBM good press versus, negative
press for laying off the same person. Employee loses 30% pay for a 18 mos. and
loses unemployement when terminated and probably reduced 401K contributions
for 18 mos. What a scam. -anonymous-
Comment
05/05/12: Early-retirement-ibmers-older-workers
-Ananoymous-
Comment 05/04/12:
I think what they're really bridging is the gap between their RA designs and
what they can actually do without getting nailed to the wall for age discrimination.
-gman-
Comment 05/04/12:
Well, some companies apparently do understand the value of an educated workforce
in the knowledge economy (and put their money where their mouth is):
united-technologies-is-a-rare-corporate-do-gooder
In today's IBM there's no money for business essentials like new computer
equipment, software licenses, or travel, let alone education. Ginni and Sam
talk about all the money available for education, but have you tried asking
your immediate manager whether any of it is available to you? From personal
experience, you will get a resounding "no", perhaps accompanied
by a strange look, or even raucous laughter.
Yet, here's UTC spending $1B (yes that's a "B", Ginni and Randy,
not an "M") because they realize the value of an educated workforce.
Take heed IBM; this one-sided labor market isn't going to last forever, and
you are going to very much regret how you have treated your most valuable
asset ... your employees. -IBM
Mentat-
Comment 05/04/12:
Anonymous wrote: "Several on my team have been forced to take commercial
GBS assignments that involve travel. "
While I agree with much written here, and some posts
have been mine, I disagree with the above complaint about having to travel.
Consider that a business needs to put workers where the work is, and for a consulting
company the clients may not always be in your backyard. That was the IBM life
for many IBMers in all my years there. So stop your whining. You have a job.
Go worker for a Home Depot store or become a teacher in your local school if
you want something guaranteed to stay local. -anonymous-
Comment 05/04/12:
As of yesterday, there were over 4000 hits to Transition to Retirement brochures
and documents. It was subsequently reset. For the sake of argument, let's say
there are 4000 possible retirees. Let's also say they make an average of $100k
and severance would have been on average $50K (max 26 weeks). 4000 x $50k =
$200 Million IBM savings in severance. 70% of average $100k salary would be
savings of $30k. 4000 x $30k = $120 Million. So be signing up for TTR Plan,
IBM would save average $320 Million, given above scenario. What does the employee
get??? -Anonymous-
Comment 05/04/12:
For the people asking the downside, what happens when you commit to leave on
12/31/2013 and then become un able to fulfill that commitment? For instance
a medical issue comes up? -Critical Mass-
Comment 05/04/12:
ibm-offers-new-program-to-older
The Transition to Retirement is being referred as an experiment program.
So welcome to the testtube those that want to get in on it. An IBM spokesman
said Tuesday that the program is not part of an effort by the company to reduce
costs and headcount. "It's a totally volunteer program. It has nothing
to do with cost said Doug Shelton."
So why not just give those retirement eligible a pass from RAs until 12/31/13
if they agree to retire instead of the reduced work schedule and pay? It is
ALL about CO$T to IBM. -anonymous-
Alliance Reply: It's amazing how much and how often they lie to every IBMer's
face; and so boldy, isn't it? Yet, there will be IBMers that will take the TRIP
and then say "I don't care if IBM lies to me. So What?" This is what
IBM does, and what they have been doing for two decades.
At least with a union contract in their hand, employees
would be able to bargain against those lies, as a group and IBM could not pit
individual workers against each other. When you think about IBM, #THINKGreedy.
Comment 05/03/12:
Help! The Retire Trans offer sounds like a good deal for me, but I have to be
missing a major downside given the comments already posted. Here's my situation.
Eligible to receive IBM pre-2008 pension now (small as it may be), but planned
to retire Dec 31, 2013 so I can collect my FHA. Loss of customer accounts has
reduced my workload to 44 hrs/week. That makes me more nervous about being targeted
for RA. So the Ret Trans program would assure me of not being RA'd and I'd only
work 26hrs/week. (my bad if I go beyond 26hrs). Eligible to collect FHA Dec
31, 2013. So the Ret Trans program would ensure that will happen. Have retirement
income from a former employer, to recover some of the 30% drop in pay. Have
an annuity that I could begin drawing from to offset most of the remaining drop
in pay. Everything else is neutral (med, insurance, benefits etc) Any wisdom
to share to help me (and possibly others in my position) avoid making a big
mistake by signing up? -On The Fence-
Comment 05/03/12:
The Nautilus Program is now aggressively making the rounds again on GBS internal
projects. Several on my team have been forced to take commercial GBS assignments
that involve travel. They were told that refusal to accept the assignments is
grounds for termination, meaning no severance package. How much worse is this
going to get? We have RAs, "Pay cut retirement transition", and now
this "Nautilus Project". It's very clear that IBM wants US workers
to quit. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/03/12:
Was on a VP level call, and the leadership team are already trying to game the
'transition to retirement' rules. If there is a major deliverable the employee
can work extra hours and take the time off later (I.e. take a whole week off
later). These friggin managers will work your a$$ off at 70% your current salary
and won'r bat an eye. There was an HR Partner on the call and he said
NOTHING. Expect absolutely no support from the HR community (I think most people
know they work for management)
-Anon-
Comment 05/03/12:
"Why retire for 50% pay when you can continue to work 50% of the time
for 100% pay?" Not my words, but those of a very wise old fellow.
Wise indeed... -gadfly-
Comment 05/03/12:
Why is IBM offering this TRIP now? They could have offered this years ago and
some employees close or eligible to retirement folks could have avoided an RA
that befell them. Something really smells here. There is a hidden agenda that
IBM is up to. -anonymous-
Comment 05/03/12:
What a scam this so called Transition to Retirement is. It is just a way for
IBM to isolate and put a high percentage of older workers on known exit plan
path which helps IBM in the continuing Resource Action process because they
can't be held to age discrimination for the transitioning group. IBM can then
go about their tried-and-true process of staying under the WARN act radar by
homogenizing the remaining population, which would have fewer older workers
- all the while, getting the same amount of work for a lesser payroll out of
those gullible folks that took the bait. Nice try, IBM. -$20in15
Roadmap Roadkill-
Comment 05/03/12:
For the IBMers on the cash-balance plan, and were close to 40 in 1999, you have
a quasi-pension which gives you an annuity. Being retirement eligible when you
leave IBM (or within one year of eligibility) does matter because as its written
right now, there is a substantial bump in the annuity payments if you eligible
(or 1 year from eligible). For a friend it made the difference between 11K a
year and 18K a year. It's a small number of people who have this but worth saying
as you plan your exodus or wait for your job loss. -Poughkeepsie
Engineer-
Comment 05/03/12:
'Trasitiom to Retirement', just another way for IBM to eliminate more of its
US based employees, using a more PC form that will be accepted easier by the
media. After 18 years of service with IBM, with PBCs of 1 or 2+ every year,
the last year was rated as a 3 at year end with no prior notification/warning.
Challenged it and reached the HR level of the process. Then received my RA notice
and HR advised me not to continue with the challenge, that at age 61 it was
better to go with the RA since the challenge would be denied because of the
RA action. EEOC lawyer told me the same thing. That was a month ago and today
I received a call from one of the IBM recognized contracting firms asking if
I was ready to consider taking an assignment back at IBM as a contractor. Not
ready to consider it yet, but may do just that at some point, after all no over40
hours/week to work, less stress. I also interviewed with one of the IBM customers
and am at the 3rd level of interviews, they are looking for RA'd IBMers because
they know we have all the inside scoop on how IBM operates and can be an advantage
to them when it comes to the contract games played. Ironic but true. Alls fair
in todays world. -RA'd on 3/28-
Comment 05/02/12:
Once this "program" is complete, they will re-visit the number of
people on the old pension plan that remain. They will determine if there were
enough "volunteers" or not. When they decide it is not enough, they
will make a very easy retirement decision: On day xx/xx/xxxx, if you are part
of the old retirement plan and have not retired, your retirement accounts will
be moved from the old plan to the new plan. It is a voluntary retirement date,
but you will lose ~60% of your retirement if you choose to stay an IBM employee.
The advantage of that program is that it is not an RA and cannot be considered
age discrimination. It is going to be an optional work choice that leaves older
workers no choice but to leave or face devastating retirement losses.
-Anon-
Comment 05/02/12:
They really have some set of big blue balls to insult their older, experienced
US workers with this "program". Clearly it is saying you've overstayed
your welcome, we want you to leave, goodnight and don't let the door hit you
in the ass on the way out. Bunch of shmucks up there in Armonk. Frig you! We
know you are reading this board. -sickandtired-
Comment 05/02/12:
@-Stock Options- I should know better than you what options I have or do not
have. I do have ISOs vesting into January 2015. I confirmed today that I would
lose any of those options that are not vested as of Dec. 31, 2013 if I accept
the Transitioning to Retirement plan. Another downside to the program--a big
one, for me. -GettingTooOldforIBMsTaste-
Comment 05/02/12:
Me too "IBM$ucks", although I'm eligible for this program (30 years
in 2013), my FHA will be lost. I have to be employed until 2015 for that to
kick in (I'll be laid off way before 2015) Yeah, IBM sucks. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/02/12:
A more attractive Retirement Transition Program would be to have the folks work
full time for the next 6 months, followed by up to a 12 month Bridge Leave Of
Absence and a years severance (whatever gets the employee to retirement eligibility).
That way they could still plan for work transition while respecting the long
term employees. If they offered that I think they'd have people leaving in droves.
Respect? I know...too much to ask these days right? -Glass_Half_Empty-
Comment
05/02/12: I am continuously amazed at what I read on here. When
2015 rolls around there will be very few people left in the US to get the stock
and most of those will be marketing or minimum wage workers in the GDFs. PBC
ratings nor value to IBM have anything to do with who is selected for RAs. I
have known several PBC 1 Band 10s selected over the last few years. You should
be working under the assumption that you will be RAd and working to organize
now! -OpenYourEyes-
Comment 05/02/12:
@-GettingTooOldforIBMs- Taste You do not have options vesting in 2015.
Maybe expiring, but not vesting. -Stock Options-
Comment 05/02/12:
The T "RIP" plan (Transition Retirement Incentive Plan), notice the
"RIP" part, does not appear to do anything for an employee who can
last at least 3 more months at IBM. It would reduce the amount contributed to
the 401K by IBM, 70% pay says you would only get 1,2% of current vs 2%). It
says, "NO RA", but it does not say, "YOU WILL NOT BE FIRED for
poor performance; If you cannot do your job, satisfactorily to your manager,
in 60% of time, you may be rated a 3 or 3- (ie. out the door)*** NOTICE THE
NO 3's in the ELIGIBILITY requirement. (You could be reset to 70% and then fired
and they save money.
PROS:
STILL LOOKING FOR ONE !
CONS:
For IBM it gets rid of: the 26 weeks of severance, the $2500 retraining allowance,
the 30 percent of your pay for 19 months = about 6 months, your 5 weeks of vacation
pay they may have to pay you (if you hold on to it until December of 2013) and
months of Unemployment you would be eligible for if you were fired. THE CONS
beat the PROS unless you know how to fake working for a year and a half without
being fired.
KEEP OUT OF THE T"RIP" and you come out ahead, if you are within a
year of retirement, NOW; You are probably ahead staying out, any way, if you
are eligible for the plan. -NO_KY-
Comment 05/02/12:
That is too bad that if someone is told they only have to work 60% of 40 hours
which is equivalent to 3 days a week, that they would actually work more than
that. Part Time is Part Time, if you are told you are part time and work more,
then you deserve to be put out to pasture. Take a stand, join the Union and
stand up for your dignity. -Working-With-Blinders-
Comment 05/02/12:
I missed out on keeping the old pension plan by a year (I was 39 in 1999) and
now I miss out on this new program by two years (53 by end of 2013). Why me?
Why all based on my current AGE? Talk bout being born at the wrong time and
place in history. -IBM$ucks-
Comment
05/02/12: Question: How many visitors of this board also go
to the front page of the Alliance@IBM web site? How many have Twitter and/or
Facebook accts? If you do and you come to this board and not to the front page,
then you may be missing articles and updates about IBM and other news. Alliance
offers plenty of information from their menu on the left column of the front
page as well. Do your self a favor and give it a look. It's worth the effort.
-AllianceVisitor-
Comment 05/02/12:
To -ex-IBMer in Rochester- I'm not defending anything they are doing,
but regarding the pension plan, they froze it at the end of 2007 I believe.
So basically, your top earning years up to that point is what they use in the
calculation. Any earnings after that don't count. So the 70% pay won't factor
into that calculation. -NotTheIBMIJoined-
Comment
05/02/12: What this does is allow IBM to tell the mainframe
folks to train their Beijing replacements since they are retiring. When all
is said and done IBM can claim they had no choice but to offshore the work as
all of their experienced people opted to retire. -Anonymous-retiree-
Comment 05/02/12:
-ex-IBMer in Rochester- Both the cash balance pension and old defined
benefit plans have been frozen since 2008. IBM no longer contributes to them.
No pension is reduced since it is already frozen at the 2008 amount. The enhanced
annuity for retirement eligible also will not go down if someone opts for this
plan. UNLESS IBM decides to modify this now. So that being said: The last couple
of years, typically the last five to calculate the old pension base have just
about all went away in the calculations. IBM want a hands count of who might
be retirement eligible to use it for their gain and benefit, certainly not for
the retiree eligible employee. IBM has an agenda here and probably a hidden
one at that based on their recent Gerstner-Palmisano era. -Pensioned?-
Comment 05/02/12:
-ex-IBMer in Rochester- Better recheck your retirement plans. All old
pension people had their pensions frozen in December 2007. It has not grown
any since. Only a minsicle ammount of interest. Just so you aren't surprised.
-Exodus2007-
Comment 05/02/12:
Here is my prediction: once USA employee ranks reach less than 80,000 IBM will
start to spiral down like a bird that has been shot down. What I'm getting at
is IBM will have a BAD quarterly report. Real BAD. Wall St. will be shocked
even when they hear earlier before the quarter is up that IBM is taking all
necessary actions to still be on their 2015 roadmap target. This
critical mass number has not been reached yet. But it will happen.
-nostradamus@IBM-
Comment 05/02/12:
I ain't gonna take this offer. I earn all my pay and am due for raise. I decide
when I will retire. Not IBM. I ain't gonna get RAed so why should I agree to
a pay cut. I have never and will never be a PBC 3. I also like working 70 hour
weeks. I'd be bored silly working on 42 hours a week. What would I do with all
the spare time and less money? I ALSO WANT MY 2015 STOCK GRANT! That
EPS will be at least $30 by 2015 anyhow.
-JoeorJaneBeamer-
Comment
05/02/12: This new program is just another way to help make
it easier for IBM to create the next RA roadkill lists. So IBM wants to be better
able to forecast to better plan when older, more experienced workers decide
to leave and retire since they have historically found they (IBM management)
have RAed the wrong experienced skilled workers in most cases. But workers still
get no forecast when they are tapped for an RA. So how can they better plan?
-anonymous-
Comment 05/02/12:
After talking with another ex-IBMer, I realized this Transition to Retirement
must be targeting people on the old pension plan, which is based on your last
couple years earnings. Thus, a 30% cut in your last couple years will reduce
your pension. Even though I left the company, they still have an impact on my
community. But I'm afraid the executive ranks won't rest until every last dollar
is given to their pay packages. -ex-IBMer
in Rochester-
Comment 05/02/12:
If my old reptilian brain serves me correctly did IBM offer a plan for IBMers
during the summer a few years back to work less hours for less pay to better
address "work life balance"?
Not sure how many takers for it but we all know RAs came a
plenty since.
Just because IBM says if you meet the criteria of this new
transition into retirement plan does not mean they cannot change their mind
at any time.
Interesting if your manager says you cannot participate due
to business need and then you get RAed before December 2013.
This plan or IBM program is to protect the company from age
discrimination lawsuits based on RA age statistics.
I also have to feel for those folks that got RAed in March
that make all the criteria for this plan.
Talks about age discrimination.
Wrong place at the wrong time. Just like when most were forced
converted to lose loads of pension benefits.
IBM is going to drive us all to extinction. -trexibmer-
Comment 05/02/12:
did you notice the age of the employees targeted form the "to list"
Employees - 061, Employees - 062, Employees - 063, Employees - 064,
Employees - 065, Employees - 066, Employees - 067, Employees - 068,
Employees - 069, Employees - 070, Employees - 071, Employees - 072,
Employees - 073, Employees - 074, Employees - 075, Employees - 076,
Employees - 077, Employees - 078, Employees - 079, Employees - 080,
Employees - 081, Employees - 082, Employees - 083, Employees - 084,
Employees - 085 -ANON-
Comment 05/02/12:
Oh, it should be RK-2015 not RC2015... also vacation will be prorated i.e. reduced
by the days worked, by their numbers a 40 percent reduction in vacation time
to be paid out or taken. -ANON-
Comment 05/02/12:
The down side? Where to begin.. No severance pay, No unemployment, No vesting
of the 7 shares of stock, No "3's" or"4's" can participate,
The work load / schedule will not change ( if your doing 60 hr a week, you will
continue that for less pay ) and No guarantee that the RA's for others will
stop. The RC2015 now has a larger pool to Pee in. -ANON-
Comment 05/02/12:
I'm sure the Transition to Retirement program will appeal so some who were already
planning to retire and some who are tired of living under the resource action
dagger. (Note, it doesn't protect you from being sold, eg RSS) But, if you can
make it until next year's 1Q housecleaning, you'll work fewer hours, get your
freedom sooner, and collect more $'s (with the addition of severance)
-Anon-
Comment 05/02/12:
This new retirement bridge is apparently for the last of the people eligible
for the old plan. For the rest of us, there is nothing at 30 years. Whether
we leave at 30 years or 29 years is irrelevant. So, this is only a deal for
those eligible for the old plan who have 29 years and who are biting their nails,
hoping to stay employed through 2013. If I were in that boat, I would jump on
this deal immediately because I bet those who don't will be targeted for RA,
and at that point, there will be no bridge. -Anonymous-
Comment 05/02/12:
I am sending the original Transition to Retirement Email with my own
annotated notes, each preceded by "Note:" -Joe-
Dear IBMer:
Note: Dear Dead American IBMer walking:
IBM is pleased to notify you of your eligibility to apply
for a one-time, voluntary program for IBMers in the U.S. nearing retirement.
Called Transition to Retirement, it offers a gradual way to retire, with advantages
for both you and the company.
Note: IBM is pleased to notify you that it has found a
way to quickly jettison even more American employees in a cost efficient way.
It’s voluntary in so far as the employee has a month to decide, the
decision is irrevocable once made, it’s a one-time deal and the employee
has to agree to terminate their employment as of 12/31/2013.
Note: Of course, we added an implied threat to the employee
but we decided to list this as a benefit of the program.”you’ll
be exempt from any resource actions that may occur during the Transition to
Retirement period”. We borrowed this technique from the FBI practice
of granting witnesses immunity from prosecution if they agree to testify.
If approved to participate in the program, you’ll receive
70 percent of your current pay while working 60 percent of your current schedule.
You’ll also receive the same benefits you do today, most at a full-time
level, including health insurance and 401(k) Plus Plan automatic company contributions.
Due to the experience and skills you possess and the business need to close
the gaps your departure would create, you’ll be exempt from any resource
actions that may occur during the Transition to Retirement period. You agree
to retire on December 31, 2013 -- or earlier, if you choose to do so.
Note: This is actually a cost saving for IBM. Separation
packages can cost money. For example, if you have an employee with 26 years
employment and give a week’s salary for each year of employment when
we fire said employee we are actually paying 50% of their salary for 0 days
worth of work for a year. By comparison with this program we have the employee
work at least 3 days a week and pay them 70% of their salary. But if you eliminate
the separation package it could be as low as 1 day’s pay for 3 days
work. Not bad. Huh?
IBM is offering this program to address issues facing American
businesses and employees alike.
Note: IBM is offering this program to lower cost and reduce
its American employees , specifically the older ones with higher salaries.
We really do not care about American Business or American employees. The less
American employees we have the better.
In recent years, American workers, including IBMers, have
been asking for ways to gradually ease into retirement – maintaining
a certai level of pay and benefits while freeing up time to explore what to
do in their next phase of life.
Note: HR liked the above line so we put it in.
At the same time, businesses, including IBM, want the ability
to forecast when employees may retire so they can better plan.
Note: This will allow IBM to fine tune future resource
actions.
The Transition to Retirement program was designed to address
these issues. We believe it balances the needs of our U.S. retirement-eligible
employees with the needs of our business.
Note: We believe it will be a cost efficient way to get
rid of American employees
For you, it provides a way to scale back on IBM commitments
so you can explore what to do when you retire, whether that involves a second
career, volunteer work or other meaningful ways to fill your time.
Note: For IBM it provides a way to scale back on it commitments
to employees. We thought the “meaningful ways to fill your time”
line was over the top but again HR thought it had a nice ring to it.
For IBM, it provides advance notice of when IBMers will retire,
giving managers time to work with their teams to identify key skills and knowledge,
while maintaining commitments to our clients and the business.
Note: For IBM it provides advance notice so it can replace
an American employee with cheap labor. It also provides time for the employee
to train the Global Resource.
Financial planning and retirement resources – including
MoneySmart seminars, individual coaching sessions and other programs -- are
available to help you decide if Transition to Retirement is right for you.
Much more information, including eligibility requirements, start dates, resources
and application procedures can be found on the w3 Transition to Retirement
for Eligible IBMers resource page.
Whether you ultimately decide to participate, IBM encourages
you to use the resources available to help you plan what you’ll do when
you are ready for that next phase in life.
Note: And that next phase in life may happen sooner than
you think.
Sincerely,
Note: Again HR suggested it is always good to
close with Sincerely.
Randy MacDonald
Note: “Cost isn’t everything. It’s the only thing”
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Comment
05/01/12: New
IBM retirement program guarantees job through 2013 -seventy4sixty-
Comment
05/01/12: putting you out to pasture...keeping you until the
end of 2013 is probably cheaper for them at 70% salary than paying severance
to all the long time IBMers by RA. They know most people will still put in a
full days work, so the 60% hours is no bargain. -nonsense-
Comment 05/01/12:
This has another major disaster all over it. 60% work reduction is subjective.
It really means you will do 100% of the work in 60% of the time. Ratings, only
one more, will be based on 100% of work, not 60%. Not that it matters much at
that point. For me, it just means more work, more hours, less pay, less appreciation.
If I could leave now, I would be looking. I am stuck for another 18 months.
-ConfusedandConcerned-
Comment 05/01/12:
How many of you "older workers" are going to fall for this? Some of
you work on call shifts supporting clients. Do you really think your hours will
end after your 3 days if there is an outage at a vlient site? -Out
in 07-
Comment 05/01/12:
It is a way to remove older employees from the payrolls. They cannot do that
with an RA where they have to prove fairness. Not sure what this buys people
who are retirement eligible which is one of the criteria. No severance and no
unemployment. I would spend less time understanding their email/memo and consider
what a Union could offer. -No advantages-
Comment 05/01/12:
Regarding the Retirement Transition Program....Here is what I see as pros and
cons, although it's situation dependent. I wouldn't consider this an exhaustive
list either, just some thoughts I had about it today:
Pros:
Work 60% of normal work schedule for 70% pay (may not be reality) Not have to
worry about getting resource actioned Enhanced Annuity available at retirement
eligibility (Cash Balance Plan) Access to retiree health care.
Cons:
70% pay for 18 months (June 2012 through December 2013) No severance Risk of
trying to find a new job (age dependent) No money to explore new career opportunties
(70% salary all going towards living expenses)
If they kicked in 6 months severance it'd be a no brainer
for me. As it stands, I'll have to think harder about it. -grey_hair-
Comment 05/01/12:
This is to answer the person who said ...sounds like a pretty good deal.
I am curious what people see as the downside here. -CJ-Roc-"
You lose
1. Everything that is not part of a contract (since this is a gentleman's
agreement and the union is not recognized by IBM).
2. Potential severance pay
3. Potential opportunity cost of another full-time job that
you would be able to find and work at if you had 40 hours to devote.
4. Unemployment insurance protection.
5. Your self-esteem when you find out that you will never
be able to complete the scope of work you are responsible for in 60 percent
of the time.
6. Potential promotions at IBM due to you being in the program.
If your back is against the wall financially and you will
be devastated if you were RAd in the next 12 months, AND if you get a written
guarantee that under no circumstances would you be RAd, that would be my only
reason for consideration). -RA
targetted and hit-
Comment 05/01/12:
"I am curious what people see as the downside here. -CJ-Roc-"
The downside I see is that you may work only 60% of your hours for 30% less
pay- but I'm betting that you will still be pushed to produce 100% of your current
assigned workload. Also this may dump more workload on the employees that are
not eligible to take the 60/70 plan- leading to a big morale problem. -I
see the light-
Comment 05/01/12:
About the newly-announced plan to "allow you to retire" and "allow
you to work 2/3 schedule"
I was RAd. If you are close to retirement anyway, and if you
live in America (born here, etc) you are on the list somewhere ANYWAY and
when you are RAd they will bridge you to retirement.
Also, do you really trust that your workload will be only
24 hours a week instead of 40?
This kind of thing only works when there is a trust relationship
between manager and employee.
If you think you are safe from RA just because you accept
this offer, who will enforce it if they decide to change the rules? Have they
ever changed the rules before?
JOIN the union. If you like to read this board it is worth
the measly 10 bucks a month. -alreadygone-still-a-member-
Comment 05/01/12:
I received the note about the Transition to Retirement. You work 60% of your
hours (sounds like 3 days/week), get 70% of pay, and full benefits. It starts
July 2, and you must retire by 12/31/2013. Also you are exempt from any RA during
this period. For those who were contemplating leaving in the next couple of
years anyway, this sounds like a pretty good deal. I am curious what people
see as the downside here. -CJ-Roc-
Comment 05/01/12:
Basically below is saying, we will let you hang on for another 1.5 years, but
for that honor, you must give us 30% of your salary. If you don't take the offer,
you will be in the next round of RAs. How can this be real? CLASS ACTION ANYONE???
-anon-
Comment 05/01/12:
I got the Transition to Retirement offer today. An interesting way to cut IBM's
highest paid employees in the USA before 2015 without calling it an RA. Supposedly
we can get 70% of our compensation for 60% work time. I will love to see how
the 60% is calculated, since today I work 70-80 hours per week in a sales role.
The info I read said that scheduling for exempt employees is to be mutually
agreed by the employee and management, but could mean 3 or 4 work days per week.
Now, I am pretty good with math so I noticed that 4 days per week is 75%, not
60%. Also, I see that stock options that are not vested at the time of retirement
(no later than end of 2013) are lost. So I would lose out there as I do have
some options vesting into early 2015. At least people on this plan are not eligible
for RAs, and the benefits such as medical and 401K look pretty good. Link to
details, for people with access to the IBM intranet:
http://w3.ibm.com/news/w3news/top_stories/2012/05/cl_t2r_eligible.html
-GettingTooOldforIBMsTaste-
Comment 05/01/12:
A 30% cut in pay and 40% cut in work load? Who is going to sign up for that?
That "40% cut in work load" sounds mighty subjective to me.
-YeahRight-
Comment 04/30/12:
This just in:
Dear IBM Manager:
Like many U.S. companies, a number of our employees with
skills and knowledge critical to our success are at or nearing retirement eligibility.
Because of this, IBM and IBMers need to think ahead. IBM needs insight into
when employees may retire to better plan for that transition. At the same time,
IBMers have been asking for ways to ease into retirement. They want to maintain
a certain level of pay and benefits while reducing their hours so they can explore
future options.
Until now, there hasn't been a way to address these issues.
That is why we are announcing a new approach called Transition
to Retirement, a one-time, voluntary program designed to balance the needs
of our retirement-eligible employees in the U.S. with the needs of our business.
Transition to Retirement is for IBMers who are at or near retirement eligibility
in the U.S. The program offers participants 70 percent of their pay for working
60 percent of their schedule. They'll receive the same benefits they do today,
most at a full-time level, including health benefits and 401(k) Plus Plan
automatic company contributions. They'll also be exempt from any resource
actions that may occur during the Transition to Retirement period. In return,
all participants agree to retire on or before December 31, 2013.
For IBMers, it provides a way to ease into retirement, to scale back on IBM
commitments and explore new opportunities. Financial planning and retirement
resources.... including MoneySmart seminars, individual coaching sessions
and other programs -- are available to help IBMers plan and decide if Transition
to Retirement is right for them.
For managers, it provides a forecasting capability -- advance notice of when
IBMers will retire, allowing time to retain key skills and knowledge, while
maintaining commitments to clients and the business. This program is completely
voluntary for IBMers, and as a manager, you have a say too. You can decline
an employee's application based on established criteria driven by business
need.
Tomorrow, we will inform eligible employees about this new program and we'll
post a w3 story for all employees at that time. On May 2, we will hold a manager-only
web briefing where more information will be provided and your role will be
discussed.
Much more information, including eligibility requirements, start dates and
application procedures -- including your ability to review and approve employee
participation -- can be found on the Manager Portal. In addition, you can
view a list of employees reporting to you who have been identified as eligible
for this offer.
I know this will require you to think differently as you rebalance workloads,
plan for skills transfers and transform work. I look forward to your leadership
and support as we implement this program. -anon-
Comment 04/29/12:
In case people haven't figured this out, "workforce rebalancing" (aka
firings) are part of the regular business model for IBM now. Indeed, just listen
to Mark Loughridge's Q/A with analysts on Q1. IBM plans to use the revenue from
the store systems sale to Toshiba to continue to fund "workforce rebalancing"
efforts. Which from the call was estimated to be between "$700 million,
$750 million of workforce rebalancing charges" on top of the $225 million
that was spent this quarter. IBM's sale of the Lenovo equity was used to fund
last years layoffs. Just open the IBM transcript below and highlight "workforce"
in your browser, you'll quickly understand the picture:
international-business-machines-management-discusses-q1-2012-results-earnings-call
-Enlightened in RTP-
Comment 04/29/12:
Now many accounts has IBM lost in the past year? It looks as though there have
been quite a few large ones lost. This will not be overlooked by scrupulous
investors or those thinking about signing with IBM in the future.
-SlapBackEcho-
Comment 04/26/12:
IBM just lost VF Corp account because of poor security -Anonymous-
Comment 04/26/12:
The IBM brass is not putting the customer number one. They only put themselves
number #1. The IBM brass only cares about signing the contract so they get their
stock bonuses and awards. After that they could care less and always know they
can scapegoat the sales, delivery, and support teams for anything the customer
might target. If the customer has praise then the IBM brass only see it. It
is no wonder Disney, State of Texas, and AstraZeneca among other have quit their
contracts with IBM. The Alliance response to -toolatebaby- is right
dead on. -anonymous-
Comment 04/26/12:
Yahoo finance wants to hear our stories. C'mon people. If you don't want to
show up at a picket line, at least SHOW UP virtually. What have we got to lose
except our jobs? Tell your story. Yahoo might not be the most prestigious media
outlet but at least millions of people will hear what they are doing to US!!!
Are you a current or ex-IBM employee with a story to tell? We want to hear it.
We are discreet. jbort@businessinsider.com
-StandUpForUSWorkers-
Comment 04/26/12:
One New Yorker! One person? At one of the most decimated sites in IBM America.
One? Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto for s*** sake. Not a single solitary IBMer
in North Carolina had the Intestinal Fortitude to show up! The top guy shows
up to support you at what I am sure he thought would be a big turnout and you
leave him standing there all alone. IBM wins another round as the opposing team
fails to take the field yet again. No whining or complaining on the board for
RTP people. They are all perfectly happy. Well Johnnie, tell em what they won
with this stellar showing! Well Exodus, they have won more RA's, More salary
cuts. More commission grabs and less benefits for the buck then ever before.
All raises for the southeast region have been cancelled as there is no need
to appease anyone, they are all whipped already. The Manager in charge of RTP
will get a huge bonus for sure. A huge publicity win for IBM management. It
makes me sick. -Exodus2007-
Comment 04/25/12:
In the past few days have been getting "inspirational" emails from
IBM brass. Such as "wins" and another about putting our customer first.
They sense the ship is sinking. The win was a $5K (hoping that was a typo) for
Simba. Also employee sat survey for Education and advancement. LOL! All they
need to do to regain morale is admit their mistakes and assure us that the madness
will stop. -toolatebaby-
Alliance reply: Ok let's review: It doesn't matter what IBM brass does; it's
what IBM workers need to do to "stop the madness". Whether IBM brass
'sense the ship is sinking' or not, makes no difference. Their actions, that
imply desperation may be in fact; rats repositioning chairs on the deck. It's
the IBM workers that need to unite and do something that can steer the ship
in a new direction. First step: Organize. Gather yourselves together and take
action to let IBM brass know that you've had enough. Staying away from public
pickets only encourages IBM brass to continue with their same destructive policies.
Overcome the fear. Join Alliance@IBM and let's do this!
Comment 04/25/12:
What happened to the RTP supporters?
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/news/story/11019666/
-member-
Comment 04/25/12:
The following links need to be sent to any Government, Educational, Investor
people you can think of. The word is starting to get out but needs to continue.
"IBM to Offshore 78% of US Workforce."
http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/not-your-fathers-IBM/
Senior management walks with $millions.
http://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/1180618.htm
-ananymous-
Alliance reply:
1)The "78%" is a prediction made by Cringley, it's not established
fact. It is possible, though.
2)The SECform data could be accurate; however, Sam Palmisano has not yet been
indicted for any of these activites or considered to be an insider trader.
3) The government, educational, and/or Investment Bankers will not blink an
eye to this data.
The best way for IBMers to fight back is to organize and unionize. Yes, these
ideas can be used; but they bear no fruit unless attorneys$$$ are involved.
The first step for employees is to decide to fight back. The next may be as
simple as showing up at an informational picket. Fear is being used against
you, by IBM. They KNOW you are afraid of losing your job; but they will make
sure you do anyway, if you don't fight back. So why not fight back? Why not
step forward and grow the membership at Alliance@IBM and then actually do something
to fight back, that can help to gain a contract and a seat at the bargaining
table. The word IS spreading; but the EFFORT TO ORGANIZE needs to continue and
to grow.
Comment 04/25/12:
LOL - just got an email about the "Simba Technologies Win" - for $5K.
That'll make up for Texas and Disney. LOL, way to win the big ones, IBM.
-anonymous-
Comment 04/25/12:
I was notified on Feb 27, 2012. I was an IT Specialist with over 12 years at
IBM. I don't see this list on your web site. Under the title "S&D Non
Brand Employees Selected" There are a total of 96 people that got let go.
-IT guy in S&D-
Comment 04/24/12:
Good luck to all my Blue brothers and sisters today with the informational pickets.
All here wish you luck! We will win! Whether it be via the media to stop this
or by joining together to have a unified voice against the wrong and unfair
treatment of IBMs most precious asset...their American workforce. It's just
not right. We will win. Money is not everything. IBM will pay dearly with its
collapse if Roadkill 2015 continues. -Cringing-
Comment 04/24/12:
To -Anonymous- of 04/23/12: Thank you for collecting data but watch
out. An IBM recruiter who doesn't know you've been RA'd might offer you a job.
If IBM offers you a job during these 30 days and you don't take it, you could
lose your severance. Details should be in your RA documents. -Gorya-
Comment
04/23/12: It is amazing how management removes
the jobs and then repost them after the big day. I checked from March 30 - April
3rd and hundreds of jobs were posted during those dates -IBM Rochester-
Comment
04/23/12: It's starting
to Happen............word is out:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-tries-screw-salespeople-commissions-190045853.html
-Ich Bin Muede-
Comment
04/23/12: What happened to the Austin, TX picket?
C'mon Austin and Tivoli. Surely you are suffering the wrath of IBM off-shoring
and RAs too! -Texas_no_step-
Alliance reply: We tried to get something going but did not get a picket captain
or confirmation that people would be there. The other sites will do well though.
To Austin employees: if you want to do something in the future contact us.
Comment
04/23/12: Having been laid off at the end of
March, and looking at job sites, I see a few things. One, IBM has posted a LOT
of "intern" jobs. While they will use this to say they are being positive;
what they have actually done is fire seasoned professionals and their business
model is to replace with interns. So interns, if you like 70-80 hour weeks,
you are in luck! For even low level jobs on an IBM job site, they do specifically
ask if you have previously worked for IBM. I am sure this is in place so they
can filter out anyone that has been laid off. I am going to apply both ways
one saying I have and one saying I have not. My thinking is if you check yes
that you have worked for IBM before, they have a filter to take you out if running.
I really do NOT want to work for IBM again, but since I am job searching, I'm
going to take some time with recruiters and collect data. -Anonymous-
Comment
04/22/12: 
For those of you that haven't seen our web
site front page Spotlight:
SOS!
Stop Off-Shoring our jobs! Informational pickets April 24.
Locations:
- Poughkeepsie: Sidewalk in front of Spackenkill Plaza, Rt
9 4pm to 5pm
- Endicott: Corner of North Street and McKinley Ave, 4pm
to 5pm
- Boca Raton: Congress Ave. 4pm to 5pm.
- Burlington, VT: Corner of Park St and IBM
exit, Essex Junction 4pm to 5pm
- Boulder: Diagonal Highway (Rt 119) and Mineral Road (shoulder)
4pm to 5pm
- Rochester, MN: Peace Plaza 4pm to 5pm
- RTP: IBM Main site front gate
(intersection of Davis Drive and E Cornwallis Road) 4pm to 5pm
If you want to participate or have an information picket line at your site
please contact: ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
-Alliance-
Comment
04/22/12: I am glad to see much more media coverage on IBM's
fall from grace.
What they are doing to their US work force is disgusting. We need this to get
on national TV. IBM is a train wreck out of control and Wall Street seems to
be unaware. -Cringing-
Alliance reply: The job cuts and downsizing of IBM
has been reported throughout the media over the years. We have alerted everyone
about this. Maybe employees should be contacting them as well.
Comment
04/20/12: Cringely has now posted all 4 parts are now on his
current blog. Permanent links:
Preface -- http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/watch-out-IBM/
Part 1 -- http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/not-your-fathers-IBM/
Part 2 -- http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/somethings-rotten-in-IBM-dubuque/
Part 3 -- http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/magical-thinking-at-IBM/
Part 4 -- http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/how-to-fix-ibm-in-a-week/
-Gorya-
Comment 04/20/12:
I made a comment on Cringely's page that what he was writing about was not new
news, I guess gossip travels slowly. However, what he is doing is being a voice
for us and I think we need all the help we can get from any source. It is amazing
though, how many people are so un-aware, their heads are stuck somewhere else
in the cloud. His numbers are actually correct when he used the figure 150,000.
His timing was just wrong, that is all. In the year of 2001 when the roadkill
to 2010 was initiated, the number of USA employess was around 165,000. A manager
of my aquaintance did indeed say they had meetings specifying there would be
150,000 laid off. Read and take note and stop politicizing the small stuff.
Numbers change over the years because business changes and the model is not
perfect. The fact remains there will be an 80% reduction in US employees by
2015. the starting point was around 2001. A Thanks to Cringely for being a voice
for our movement. -Take-What-You-Can-Get-
Comment 04/19/12:
I think R. X. Cringely might be totally correct this time. IBM was tipped off
by him the first time and IBM tried to play him as a fool (which he certainly
is not!) by curtailing the soon to be accelerating planned RAs until now. I
bet Robert has done the math to find out how IBM can make $20 EPS based on it's
current USA workforce and average exploitative salaries of Indians, Chinese,
Brazilians, etc. And 78% cut is what it will take. So when you got to work at
Big Blew tomorrow take a look around at your colleagues. Three of every four
you see (possibly including yourself)will be gone by 2015. Talk about a funeral
dirge of IBM careers all to make the current USA executives and the big stockholders
richer than Richie Rich. Then IBM will become a relic of USA capitalism. Another
failed but once success story. If you join the Alliance maybe you can curtail
or even stop future RAs. Isn't that worth a try?
-IBMisGoingGone-
Comment 04/19/12:
IBM-Union-Calls-for-Pickets-to-Protest-Job-Cuts
-member-
Comment 04/19/12:
Read the comments about not getting the last month's vacation pay because all
termination dates fall a few days before the end of the month. What other things
do we lose out on? 401K match? Month of service for Severance package?
-RA_Dave-
Comment 04/18/12:
http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/somethings-rotten-in-IBM-dubuque/
-curious-
Comment 04/18/12:
Wow - this hits the nail on the head: -leftin2010- 78% of US workforce to
be eliminated.
I don't know about that. He also said last time 150,000 would be laid off and
he was off by 120k.
Obviously, they will keep laying off since they can't gain contracts.
At some point they will run out of people to get rid of and the stock will just
crash. -whatever-
Alliance Reply: Regardless of whether he was right about the number; he was
right about IBM's determination to eliminate US IT jobs in IBM. 39,000 jobs
lost is still an obvious result of the very plan IBM hatched in 1999 or before.
If US IBMers want to sit around and wait until IBM "runs out of people"
to fire; instead of organizing and fighting back with every tool in the shed,
then why bother complaining about it, here? IBM has made many bad decisions
over the past 2 decades. Their decision to gut the US IBM work force for the
sake of low cost labor and EPS gains, will eventually bite them very hard. Why
not be proactive, just like IBM used to preach for years? Join the Alliance
and then join your co-workers on April 24th and start making some noise.
Comment 04/18/12:
A history major with just a bachelor's running a technology firm for almost
a decade. What a rip off. I am fairly sure the execs are obsessed with making
their numbers and as Cringely puts it, management have lost touch of reality.
Actions do speak louder than words. -non-tech CEOs-
Comment 04/18/12:
I am hearing rumors that IBM will do another RA action at the end of the month.
Victims will be notified April 30th, for a departure date right before Memorial
day. -dun-4-
Comment 04/18/12:
I saw in our new CEO's first quarterly results letter that she closed saying
the goal was to make IBM the world's most essential company... I wonder how
management squares this with their belief that they have the most disposable
or non-essential employees. -Joe-
Comment 04/18/12:
Any way to tell how many contractors also become roadkill during an RA?
-roadkillMarch'12-
Alliance Reply: Difficult without RA pkgs being distributed to contractors.
If all the contractors sent Alliance@IBM notice of their firing, it would help.
It's certainly not scientific or exact; but we've been able to get fairly close
numbers from inside IBM, for years.
Comment 04/18/12:
Cringely posted..... -GladToNotBeBlue-
Wow - this hits the nail on the head: -leftin2010-
78% of US workforce to be eliminated.
If you are not ready to unionize then start looking for another job. -ananymous-
http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/not-your-fathers-ibm/
Comment 04/18/12:
IBM had bad revenue action due to a flat QTR. report that disappointed the Greed
machine on Wall St. bad revenue action will always give: RA
-it's_coming-
Comment 04/18/12:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA:
RSS sale to Toshiba: "No layoffs are planned for the local staff of
330 workers".... "They keep their jobs"
Yeah, I believe that, like I believe IBM has 'respect for the individual'.
-dun-4-
Comment 04/18/12:
IBM revenues fall flat; more downsizing head.
poughkeepsiejournal.com/IBM-revenues-fall-flat-more-downsizing-ahead?
-Anonymous-
Comment 04/17/12:
RSS sale to Toshiba: "No layoffs are planned for the
local staff of 330 workers"....
"They keep their jobs"
Right. IBM won't be laying off the employees; they sold them. There's a
name for that. Ask the PCD, Mfg, and other employees sold before them.
-Anonymous-
Comment 04/17/12:
-Lizzy-: Aren't the new laptop refreshes now Toshibas? If so, the RA
notice could be predicted by this. -funny_ways-
Comment 04/17/12:
The IBM's Retail Store Solutions (RSS) business was just sold to Toshiba TEC
of Japan. Some maintenance jobs to remain for awhile as IBM jobs but the future
is even more cloudy than it was before. Another part of the 2015 Roadmap/Roadkill
for USA and other first world countries. Who will be there on April 24th to
protest the imminent death of your career built on blood, toil, tears and sweat?
-Poughkeepsie Engineer-
Comment 04/16/12:
"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have
the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them."
Frederick Douglass, former slave
-anonymous-
Comment 04/16/12:
POS Division sold to Toshiba. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/16
-Lizzy Borden-
Comment 04/16/12:
While it may give people a good feeling that someone else sees what is happening
in IBM I doubt it will fix anything no matter what he(Cringely) reports. I can't
help but feel that IBM US employees have been warned over and over and yet most
do nothing to prevent the impending massacre. Obama himself can't force IBM
to organize into a union shop. Only you and your actions can. No one else. No
cavalry is coming to save the settlers in this real life drama because its no
one elses fight but yours. Not a single solitary union was formed by congress
or government mandate. No law can create one. The laws only enable YOU to form
one. If you don't step up nothing happens. Have all of you who read this site
got the person in the mirror to sign up? If not then I guess you are satisfied
with the status quo. Happy with your lot in life. Enjoy the uncertainty that
being an at will employee brings you. Good for you. If you are really happy
with your current situation that is. But if you are why do you keep coming here?
The absolute worse that can happen after you organize is you feel things are
worse and you no longer want to be a union shop. Then you have a vote and vote
out the union just like you voted them in. IBM would even gladly help you with
that vote. Its funny how you never see that happening. Something to ponder.
-Exodous2007-
Comment 04/14/12:
I, Cringely appears to have an explosive revelation about IBM scheduled for
Wednesday. http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/watch-out-ibm/
[Excerpt:
Back in 2007, when I was still writing for PBS, I posted
a couple columns (here and here) about IBM that caused great consternation
for the company. I predicted an acceleration in offshoring and outsourcing
that upset IBM employees and customers alike. Thousands of IBM careers were
about to be disrupted. The company denied my story and even, I'm told, made
a few changes to its plan in response to what I had written. It showed the
power of the blogosphere, how one person with a little insight and good sources
can affect an industry. And it's about to happen again. This coming Wednesday
I'll post another IBM column based on a look I got recently at the company's
plan for 2015. It's audacious and surprising and I'm pre-announcing it now,
frankly, in hopes that doing so will knock loose a few more details that I
can include in that column. If you have anything to share, please contact
me at bob@cringely.com or 707-525-9519.
Though IBM completely denied that 2007 column, the more telling response came
from an IBM senior manager I bumped into a few months later. "You busted
us," he said. Until Wednesday....]
Maybe he's talking about the impending sale of all of STG?
That's what I've heard lately.... -Rich the Mongoose-
Comment 04/14/12:
Where are the West Coast locations on April 24?
-What about Tucson and San Jose?-
Alliance reply: We didn't get any volunteers to say they wanted
to hold one in Tucson or San Jose.
If someone does want to by all means contact us asap at ibmunionalliance@gmail.com.
That includes other locations as well.
Comment 04/14/12:
I was an SSR for 14 years and was resourced April 2010 and looked for work for
a year and a half in my local area, but could not find work. I opened up my
possibilities to Texas, and found a job. It is with a big national company and
if I knew life without IBM would of been so good (less hours and more money),
I would of left ages ago. For current IBM employees, join the Alliance! It's
your only shot to make a difference! IBM is falling apart, and you need a voice.
-GladToNotBeBlue-
Comment 04/13/12:
I had consulted with an attorney about the Separation Agreement and after
much deliberation submitted a written response rather than sign the agreement.
On day 44 of the 45-day time limit at 5:44 pm I rec'd e-mail from my Exit
Manager that I had to submit to the Plan Administrator, even though I specifically
asked her if I was to send to her or to the Plan Administrator on the phone
and in my e-mail. I am still looking for a job and not wanting to sacrifice
my 401K until I find one, so I signed in desperation and sent it in. I also
e-mailed HR and asked for the same consideration included in my response letter.
I also mentioned how 499 IBM job openings have been posted on LInked In since
2/27/12, most of them for "interns". Received e-mail back at 8 am
this morning they would "review and get back to me early next week."
Can't wait to hear response....
Here's one eye-opening act we can do to attract shareholders' attention -
we all SELL OUR IBM STOCK at ONCE - Once I found out - I waited until the
price went as high as the market predicted - and SOLD quickly!! As far as
my 401K - I'm still hunting for a permanent job - but Monday I'm talking with
Fidelity to move any money I had invested in IBM stock to other high performing
stock. I came from a union family and strongly advocate a union approach.
Unfortunately I do not Iive near any of the planned SOS activities and can't
afford the commute at this point - but I am definitely there in spirit!!
I reviewed the list of RA'ed employees and noticed that my group was not listed
- for GBS Communications Sector there were 30 individuals included. I can
provide the list of job titles included and ages if needed.
-NoLongerBlue-
Comment 04/13/12:
"I am almost thinking about taking the job then doing the absolute
least possible and see how long it takes to get fired to see how many dollars
I can get from them"
Better have another job lined up since IBM can challenge any unemployment
claim you make if they fire you for poor performance. That is why PBC 3 employees
have a big bullseye on their back constantly. If you do want to join IBM then
also join the Alliance. -anonymous2-
Comment 04/12/12:
Getting a lot of emails out of companies from New Jersey, not all the contacts
are Indian, immediate need for desktop support, no benefits 15$ an hour, I am
almost thinking about taking the job then doing the absolute least possible
and see how long it takes to get fired to see how many dollars I can get from
them, oh yeah sure I am all up for it, then let the politics see how long it
takes, yep gonna do it, I can give s*** support on a contract and then delete
from resume. -Anonymous-
Comment 04/11/12:
IBM loses the big Disney contract but does not try and help its employees find
alternate jobs at all. Instead they might freeze internal re-hiring. I hear
that top management as well as managers are telling employees that they have
a better chance of finding employment with Disney or with the new company that
has got the contract!! One IBM honcho even sent out the Disney jobs URL to the
IBMers!! Amazing! -Another_worried_IBMer-
Comment
04/11/12: Did
you know the most recent RA was called "Phoenix"? It was actually
treated like a project and had a code name. I was on a call with several people
when a Director and a Manager made reference to Randy's Phoenix Project, but
I didn't know what they were talking about. Little did I know they were talking
about everyone on the call except themselves. We were all RAd.
-Anonymous-
Comment
04/11/12: To
-dun-4- IBM in recent years has circumvented US based personnel requirements
on contracts by giving foreign nationals userID's in the us.ibm.com Notes domain
and not in their home country. Customer's and even IBM'rs are miss lead thinking
that by communication with userxxx@us.ibm.com that person is actually in the
U.S. Sometimes you can catch this in Bluepages for example where a 'first last
name' has both a cn.ibm.com and us.ibm.com entry, with the same picture. -Anonymous-
Comment
04/10/12: To work4deman:
There is a rule in ibm where US employees cannot be directly assigned to a manager
outside the US. So, to get around their own rules, they assign you a bluepages
manager. Undercover, you actually report directly to the manager outside the
US. IBM is so messed up, they even break their own rules!!! -dun-4-
Comment
04/10/12: Does
anyone know how many L1B visa workers IBM employs in the US? Do they use us.ibm.com
email addresses instead of their home country?
-anon-
Comment
04/10/12: This
story sheds some light on the plight of skilled engineers that have lost their
jobs to H-1B visa holders. Proof of what Alliance has been saying all along:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/09/144558/texas-engineer-who-sent-obama.html#storylink=omni_popular
-Reduce_H-1Bs_now-
Comment
04/09/12: Update Note to All Affected by 2/27/12
US Job Cuts:
Before you sign the Separation Agreements - CONSULT AN ATTORNEY and read the
EEOC website! Also look up the Syverson law suit referenced in the Separation
Agreement. So glad I did - I just sent off my response to the Separation Agreement
- can't wait to see response --- -NoLongerBlue-
Comment
04/09/12: To
work4deman: IBM jobs in the US have been on the decline in the last decade while
IBM jobs in India have been on the rise. The bottom line is employee cost. IBM
CEOs found that they can replace a US employee with an employee in India at
a fraction of the cost. Once your new manager in India figures out what you
do and how to do your job will probably be gone too. Sorry to give you such
sad news but welcome to an IBM without a Union to protect their employees.
-BearerOfSadNews-
Comment
04/09/12: At
least 3 good friends were part of the 2/28 layoffs... and now I find out that
I am going to be reporting directly to a manager in India - although they have
assigned a new bluepages/HR manager in the US, it was made very clear that I
will take all direction from the person in India. I guess this type of ethics
was not part of the latest BCG course?
-work4deman-
Comment
04/06/12: Re
education: I recently interviewed a candidate for certification in one of
the IBM technical professions. He met all requirements except one, a 4-day
class that is mandatory for this certification. He explained he was unable
to take the class because there was no budget for it. Hence he was declined
certification, jeopardizing his band promotion (the certification is a pre-req
for the band promotion). Dedicated to development and career growth indeed.
-EscapedButAcquired-
Comment
04/06/12: Shouldn't
the real question be how many US workers are actually US citizens and were born
and raised here vs how many were brought here via onshoring regardless of whether
they now have a green card or even citizenship? An onshored employee may be
working on American soil and may officially be counted as a US worker but they
were brought here to take away a job from a US citizen. The ~96K US employees
is probably significantly less if you take these onshored employees out of the
equation. I am already a full dues paying member of the alliance.
-Dave-
Comment
04/06/12: To -AllHandsOnUnemploymentLine-
Yes I heard the speech. I was so annoyed to here her talk about how much
money IBM is investing in education. She failed to mention most of that education
is for the off-shore workers and little is spent in the US unless you have top
director level approval for something! It's all smoke and mirrors and how they
can spin something to look better than it really is. -Dun-4-
Comment
04/06/12: Response to -AllHandsOnUnemploymentLine-:
She is right they will take care of IBMers - But not in US. I don't get
to go for training on Advance AIX technologies, but SAs in India recruited as
AIX admins get to for Basic AIX training. Go Figure -StillHere for
Now-
Comment
04/06/12: How
many others listened to Dianne Diggleman's All Hands webcast? I don't know how
she got through it without exploding and telling us all it was a bunch of hogwash
and they made her do it. She spoke about how IBM values their employees and
is dedicated to their development and career growth. Meanwhile, all that was
on my mind for the hour of HOGWASH was will I dodge the next RA bullet. I signed
up to question her about Roadmap 2015...but as you would guess there was little
time (about 2 minutes) left for answering questions. They had a moderator of
course...if it were an open call I bet she would have been put on-the-spot for
sure. She seems like a nice person though, nothing against Diane personally,
we all know she probably HAD to deliver their bullcrap to the masses. I am a
member of the Alliance already. -AllHandsOnUnemploymentLine-
Comment
04/06/12: Why does everyone think that IBM gave
us all 7 shares of stock to be vested in 2015? Because most of us will not be
employed. The worst part for survivors is the work doesn't go away, you are
left to add it to your already over burdened workload, and blames the worker
that things are not getting done (lower PBC ratings). There is not a single
manager 1st-3rd line that could make a decision if their life depended on it.
They are simply YES men looking out for themselves to avoid the axe. -SlaveLabor-
Comment
04/05/12: There were circa 3000 US IBMers RA'ed
on 3/28. Alliance estimates are low. That equates to about 3% of the IBM US
workforce. -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: The estimate for 2.27.2012 has been suggested as 2560, in a
previous comment on this board. Alliance numbers are calculated from the RA
Pkgs. we receive from those people that have been RA'ed. We can only post those
numbers as accurate. If we had received ALL the RA packages we would probably
be closer to the 2560 estimate, as accurate.
Comment
04/05/12: Is there a way for us to find out
how many FTEs IBM currently has in the US? I have a feeling it is already significantly
less than the estimated 96K. -Curious-
Alliance reply: Based on some estimates, the number seems to be less than 95,000;
however, Allaince believes there are more firings coming. Possibly in June.
Comment
04/05/12: To anonymous posted on 04/04/12: Who
is R. Mac? I worked until 3/28 also but was told by my exit mgr that the rule
is that I only got 2 months credit of vacation. I would like to know more about
how I can get additional almost 1 month's vacation. Is it too late now?
-exit_2012_03_28-
Alliance reply: R. Mac is Randy MacDonald, IBM's Corporate HR Director. Yes,
It may be too late to get anymore vacation pay. Sorry for your job loss.
Comment
04/05/12: Had the opportunity to ask a third
line manager about Roadmap 2015 and the drive to have as few US employees as
possible. He confirmed the RA's will continue, as it was a "fact of life".
For any IBMer that thinks they do a bang up job and will be exempted from an
RA action, I have a bridge to sell you......... -Jaded-
Comment
04/05/12: @areyoukiddingme, "PLAN NOW",
it should read Take Action Now. -Unionize-
Comment
04/05/12: If the Senate
"CPU" bill (S1747) goes through who here thinks IBM will give back
the 15% they took since computer IT workers will no longer ever get OT pay?
-ya_think?-
Comment
04/04/12: In case you are thinking job cuts
only happen once per quarter, there were job cuts announced in Canada the other
day with end of April as last day. We were clearly told there are more cuts
coming due to global resourcing initative. -Canada GDF-
Comment
04/04/12: So IBM has still not discussed the
loss of the contract with Disney with employees? All they get are rumors and
notices that pass through the wire from their client. How is this a way to treat
the people that worked for you for years and brought in profits to the business?
A lack of communication is a sign of poor leadership. -MooCow-
Comment
04/04/12: Wouldn't a contract define what constituted
overtime for what band levels? I agree the law needs to be opposed but how much
longer are the players who will be most affected going to just sit on the sidelines
and hope someone else protects them? Organize people. The sooner the better.
Every day you delay IBM think tanks come up with new ways to take away from
you, to prop up the companies false bottom line. Can you imagine an SSR who
already works 60 hours a week and more and is on call 24x7 not getting paid
overtime? That 60 would become 100 or more. IBM would work them till they died.
They will beat employees like rented mules if you do nothing to stop them.
-Exodus2007-
Comment
04/04/12: Also got my "exit" 3/28.
Same sob story ... 15+ yrs of glowing PBC's ALL with 2 and 2+ ratings. Cust
facing position with multiple active project assignments. Last review was 2
weeks before the infamous Mon morning 'thanks for stopping by' call. Reasons
given are of course 'staff reduction' while there were multiple open Career
Marketplace opportunities for my position posted. I've dodged 4-5 previous bullets
but knew law of averages would take over at some point. What a relief; I physically
feel better now then I have in years. I'll make out just fine. Now, most of
you have heard this many times before, but I'm going to stress it here again.
A sincere warning to the survivors:
PLAN NOW! Look at your bank accounts, debts, and monthly expenses, and short
term new expense needs (kids schooling, braces, what cars falling apart, etc).
Ask yourself how you'll manage > WHEN < someone comes along and says your
employment is ending in 30 days. I know first hand from the exiting manager
that THERE IS MORE RA planned for this year once they've closed out this last
one. And it will not stop. My own opinion is IBM won't make it's 2015 'road
map'. Sammy saw the big picture and bailed in time. This was HIS vision, his
'baby' to corp America. Why else would he bail in the home stretch if he actually
thought he had chance of victory. It will now be Ginny's failure whether the
house of cards collapses before the road map goal, or during 'her' dismantling
approach to it. God speed all. -areyoukiddingme-
Comment
04/04/12: I was laid off in the recent resource
action. I initially was told I would only receive credit for vacation accrual
for Jan & Feb. When I pursued it with the ESC due to the fact that I was
on an AWS schedule and 3/28 would have been my last workday regardless I was
again told that I would only receive credit for 2 months. I sent an email directly
to R. Mac and I eventually received a check for an additional 12 hours of vacation
time. I also noticed that my final salary payout was 2 days short. I contacted
the ESC again and was told that my manager never followed procedures to correctly
identify me as an AWS employee. They are now sending me a check for the additional
2 days... those that got RA'ed..check your final payouts to be sure they dont
short change you..If they can..they will. -anonymous-
Comment
04/03/12: I too was affected by the 2/27 RA
and was told it was to "streamline operations and increase productivity".
I received a 3 on PBC because"a delivery executive observed one day that
I more readily identified problems than solutions" - I contested it which
was a waste of time - and here I am looking for a job. What hurts even more
is that I know FOR A FACT there are other employees that weren't affected that
have been sub-par employees for YEARS and they are still there. -NoLongerBlue-
Comment
04/03/12: Urgent action needed for Minnesota
and New Jersey IBM employees but others feel free to call the Senator and Representatives
below. It appears IBM is putting a lot of pressure on them to support S.1747
the bill that takes away overtime pay for computer workers. We need you to call
Sen. Franken and Rep Waltz in MN and Rep. Rush Holt in NJ asap to urge them
to oppose this bill. They need to hear from IBM workers and ex-employees on
this. IBM is taking a PR team with 4 "supportive" employees to congress
urging support of this bill.
Phone numbers:
Senator Franken: 507 931-5813
Rep. Waltz: 507 206 0643
Rep Holt: 609 750 9365 Thanks for your support. -Alliance-
Comment
04/03/12: People often ask me, "But
if IBM is such a bad company to work for then why does the IBM stock price do
so well?"
Here is the answer I give them. If you cut your costs each quarter to beat the
Wall Street financial targets simply by cutting the number employees then the
stock price is bound to go up. Also know as Lou's First Law. This answer comes
straight from the Stupid IBM CEO Business Manual. -AskTheProfessor-
Comment
04/03/12: If you do not like your PBC rating,
there are only 2 options to take:
not sign it or appeal through HR. Not signing will have you out the door quickly.
Appealing is a joke. You have a choice at an Exec review or a trial by peers.
Either path is not retroactive and simply a bit flip in your file. You do not
get any compensation for the change. You GDP does not increase and it has no
bearing on pay raises. The Exec review is simple. They assign an Exec to "look"
into it. A month later, they raise it. Total time spent is about 30 seconds:
10 seconds to change the rating and 20 seconds to put you at the top of the
RA list. The other is a trial with 3 peer employees of your band level and 2
managers. You have to convince them that you deserve a better rating. The 3
peer employees are screwed if they side with you, so it is unlikely you win
there now. The verdict is given and your PBC is updated accordingly in HR. Then,
you are put at the top of the RA list. -PBC Ratings-
Comment
04/03/12: IBM does not shake in its boots if
they lose a contract. The reason is two-fold: the Execs and Sales team are compensated
at the point in time of the contract and IBM only reduces expenses to cause
the stock price to increase.
I am an IBM employee and almost hate working there. I cannot leave for another
18 months. My GDP pay could only cover 1 night's rate for Summer vacation while
my manager sends a note that she is taking a week vacation right as it came
out. My neighbor's sister is married to a Sales Exex at IBM who just used GDP
money to purchase another $1.5M home in RTP. Yes, his GDP was over $1.5M take
home. Whether it is cash (most likely not) or options given, his bonus after
taxes was over 7500x more than mine. Sickening. -Stockholder-
Comment
04/02/12: When corporations abandoned the 99%:
http://tinyurl.com/7gs8fkc-Anonymous-
Comment
04/02/12: At the current pace the 2015 roadmap
will only leave about 70K USA employees. -anonymous-
Comment
04/02/12: I bet the actual number of RAed is
2% of the USA employees. I use the infamous HR managed out presentation that
Randy Mac pitched. So it is highly conceivable there could be another 200 or
more that got the ax. -stillgoingup-
Comment
04/02/12: Dear (you are reading this site and
are afraid to join),
You have to join, it's join or die in place. Doing nothing guarantees failure.
Doing something MAY work.
Isn't that worth trying? DO NOT GIVE UP
I know what you are feeling.
You are giving 150% of your time, your manager likes you, has already told you
there are lots of projects for you on the horizon. You get small monetary awards
each quarter, maybe your w3 photo is on a powerpoint slide and people clap in
that all-hands' meeting. You say "oh good, they won't RA me, I am different
- I am valuable" You continually learn and do more than anyone, you work
when you are sick, you travel, do anything, you are convinced "it could
not happen to you".
Guess what, I am sorry to tell you that you are wrong. We are all on the list
somewhere. If your job can be done more cheaply, then it is a matter of when
- not if. If you stay, then stand up for yourself, talk up, inaction will not
guarantee anything at all.
How do I know? The story is not unique...
Top performer
1's and 2's
Awards, allocades, everything........ and part of the RA..... KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
-recenthit-
Comment
04/02/12: The
numbers of IBMers fired on 02.27.12 are still increasing. See this link for
the recent (today's) update: IBM
JobCuts 2-27-2012 -Allliance-
Comment
04/01/12: Wondering why there is not much media
coverage by financial guru's commenting on how these recent events will affect
stock price.
1) State of Texas ousts IBM
2) IBM Loses 100m+ Disney Account. Thought it would have IBM shaking in it's
big blue boots. -Morgan Dollars-
Alliance Reply: In IBM's entire history; IBM has never been "shaking in
its big blue boots". IBM certainly has had thousands of their employees
shaking in their boots with fear of losing their jobs, for more than two decades.
Ironically, IBM workers have always had and still have the power, collectively,
to stop that shaking.... in their tracks. Organize your co-workers and join
Alliance@IBM.
Comment
04/01/12: "....the 2015 roadmap IS
working. IBM is getting the EPS they desire.-anonymous-"
Yes, they are but how long can they maintain that EPS before their house of
cards crumbles? It's coming. -Reply to anonymous-
Comment
03/31/12: Counts are
in - 2560 US IBMers disappeared from the network on 3/28. The Alliance estimates
based on RA packages received are lower than actuals. So, when are the next
2500 going to be fired, and to those IBMers reading this - are you so naive
and/or arrogant to think that it won't be you?? -Anonymous-
Comment
03/30/12: As a former manager, I saw and was
forced to participate in totally unfair appraisal ratings and RAs. The HR system
in IBM is rotten. Employees below directors are not respected, not even the
managers. I too, was caught up in the posibility of keeping my job at the time
to later understand that I would be RA'ed, also. After 28 years and 2 months,
I got the "boot". I was not 55 years old, therefore, I could not retire.
Basically, told "get the hell out of here". Age discrimination has
kept me from getting another job. My brother was a member of a union in another
company and when their doors closed, he got his retirement and many other benefits
because his union had negotiated these items. IBM employees need a union, so
that, they can quit getting run over by "Big Blue." -RA'ed
in 2009-
Comment
03/30/12: Unbelievable! Nothing in the Ginni/Masters
H-P comment sections on how IBM is hosing the American Worker. I had to add
my two cents there:
"When Ginni gets her "Green Jacket" - let her tell you about
the "2015 Roadkill" initiative, which is IBM's grand plan to "globally
resource" (another fancy-dancy IBM term for offshoring work) the American
worker, while ripping off their customers, who are paying top dollar, for low
quality inferior IT Service Delivery, from the BRICs.
IBM is built on a house of cards, and run by a bunch of penny-pinchers, who
have artificially inflated the stock, at the expense of the US worker. Sammy,
Ginny, and Warren will undoubtedly have inside information and cash out long
before the stock crashes. The remaining US workers, if there are any left in
2015 will get to enjoy their 5 whole shares of vested IBM Stock that were issued
in 2011. Can't wait. It's going to be a helluva pizza party!" -bentoverbyBlew-
Comment
03/30/12: I have been entertained by the posts
of those who challenged their PBC. It seems most are realizing that they won
the battle and lost the war. As a former manager, I saw first hand in management
meetings how they were going to get that employee. It is very easy to completely
crush an employee and NEVER violate any legalities or even IBM policies. I would
politely suggest those who did challenge to start looking for a new career because
they are toast in IBM. BTW, believing any of the nonsense about HR being on
your side is amusing. Their goal is to stop you in your tracks regardless of
rule violations. It is time to grow up and understand the ONLY hope is a union.
But the rank and file just don't get it. They have the Superman syndrome!!!
-Anonymous-
Alliance Reply: Thank you for your straight forward
analysis. <humor> Any chance you have some advice on how the Alliance
can convince the 'Superman' syndromes' to join the "Justice League"
union and stand up for themselves? :-) </humor>
Comment
03/30/12: To -Wants to be Proud Again-
the 2015 roadmap IS working. IBM is getting the EPS they desire. The 2015 roadmap
has nothing to do with employee satisfaction or customer service. It's all about
lining the pockets of execs and major shareholders. -anonymous-
Comment
03/30/12: -Ciao Big Blue-, Please post
the HR policy that states your PBC should not be dropped without proper advanced
notice from management. If it is not in writing it does not exist.
-Biker1mike-
Comment
03/29/12: I miss the days when our datacenters
were full of busy, smart, productive people...happy to be working and living
the American Dream. It was fun to go to work, and feel like we were of REAL
service to our customers, and proud to work for IBM. The respect we felt from
our customers was evidence of the level of service we provided. Over the last
several years the datacenters have become ghostlands...and the customers have
come to expect less than professional service and leave it up to the SDMs and
PMs to cover up and gloss over all of the wasted time and effort that goes into
simple tasks that were expedited to their satisfaction just a few years ago.
IBM does not realize that their most precious asset, their REPUTATION is taking
a hit. You get what you pay for. It s not too late, IBM. Stop the 2015 Roadkill.
It is not working. -Wants to be Proud Again-
Comment
03/29/12: Hi Anon - I fought my PBC and had
it change and not even 6 weeks later I'm paying for it, every thing I do is
being monitored, expenses are being rejected along with increased work hours,
no budget for education, meanwhile others from my team continue to wine and
dine customers along with taking education, shows up at 9:AM and leaves at 3:PM,
so yes you may think you won if you had your 3 rating overturn but watch you
back, personally I don't give a s*** anymore so they can take it all away, but
I guarantee you IBM will not get me working no 60 hours a week, I will force
them to package me out before I work 1 minute more that 40 hours a week..
-Anonymous-
Comment
03/29/12: Well, the Augusta National Golf Club
is having a problem regarding IBM, a sponsor of the Masters, now that a female,
Ginny, is the CEO.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/augusta-national-golf-club_n_1389774.html
"Rometty's situation, though, gives her leverage Burk
never had. The CEOs of the other two Masters sponsors, Exxon Mobil and AT&T,
are both members, and they'll both be donning the club's signature green jackets
next week. If Rometty isn't allowed to join them (and given Augusta's history,
she probably won't be), it will send another message to the 6 million American
women who play golf and countless others who watch it that even if they are
capable of breaking every last one of corporate America's glass ceilings, they
aren't capable of playing golf with the boys." -anonymous-
Alliance Reply: It's a wonder the Huffington Post didn't comment on the job
killing machine's efficiency, by the new IBM CEO, as being an issue with the
US IBM employees, isn't it? Idea: Should US IBMers storm the comment section
of this article on the HufPo's web site, and ask that question?
Comment
03/29/12: I was hit by an RA from IBM in 2009.
I am now wondering what I can do to create a union in my current job at another
large American corporation. I don't want to be caught off guard again or put
into the unfortunate situation of worrying every quarter whether my job will
still be there. I want to know upfront what my goals, expectations, and career
path may be. I want the security that is granted to the company executives,
but I am willing to go work with the expectations and results I need to achieve.
I don't want the people at the top to hold all the cards. I wish that everyone
at IBM had made that decision many years ago. -MooCow-
Alliance reply: Send us your contact info and what
company you work for to ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
We will put you in contact with someone.
Comment
03/29/12: I agree with Anon about fighting the
PBC rating. I fought mine and met with my 3rd line manager weekly for about
a month until he wore me down. He kept going over the same things over and over
and over. I finally agreed to accept the PBC rating and move on and get back
to work. They dropped me further in the PBC rating in the next cycle and I ultimately
got laid off. Don't trust your management. They are very good at this stuff
and they will wear you down. The ball is in their court without a Union on your
side. You have absolutely no one on your side without a Union. You are totally
on your own fighting the big bad Big Blue. -LostToBigBadBlue-
Comment
03/29/12: To Ciao Big Blue --- Get Real! The
only result of fighting a PBC rating is the satisfaction (sic) of maybe winning.
You can be sure the 'victory', if not the fight, will surely put a target on
your back for the next round of RAs. The only fight worth fighting is banding
together with your fellow workers to fight the beast, as stated in the last
part of your comment. Join up and make it count! -Anon-
Comment
03/28/12: To Another
Disgruntled Employee - Did you fight this? You should have because HR policy
is very clear when it comes to rating drops. The employee is supposed to be
advised by their manager they are in danger of losing the rating and they are
to be given ample time to fix the issue...they can't just drop you! This is
my situation but I am by no means sitting back accepting that package with grace
and dignity. Hell no...I am fighting with every ounce of energy I have! I should
have been gone today, but I'm here until resolution! At this point, either way
is fine with me...bottom line is I fought for my rights and put some much needed
spot light on the fact that PBC's are as worthless as paper anymore! Yes I am
a member of Aliiance, yes I joined when I got RA'd but I'm here and I'm fighting,
not just for me, but for everyone, current and future! To all, if there is a
rally in your area, please attend! We need to get off the forums/Facebook/Twitter
and be heard in public where it counts! -Ciao Big Blue-
Comment
03/28/12: Just wanted to tell you what is happening
at our company. We were bought by IBM ~half a year ago (close to a thousand
employees). IBM started by saying how this brings a lot of opportunities to
us, etc... Lots of lies, basically. But now they are getting serious: our managers
we told that once anybody quits, the replacement will be hired in China/India.
At least for development -- total outsourcing. Awesome, eh? -a new
IBMer-
Comment
03/28/12: This post isn't a report of a job
cut / RA; however I'd like to thank *IBMUnionYes* for a thoughtful reply to
my rather unhappy comment. [I wrote the original comment as 'No One', and my
post was itself quite a rant. Sorry!] In any case, finding the old IBM handbook
was an eye-opener. It clearly called out IBM's history of full employment [to
paraphrase] and respect for the individual; and was kind of sad to find. Anyway,
on a positive note, with so many leaving IBM, our networks are expanded to other
companies. And no, I'm not happy that there is no true job security without
a union or other protection [TAA, etc.] However, I'm also sorry for the negative
tone of my previous post. -No One-
Comment
03/28/12: age 42 20 years in IBM and the PPA
account no real pension so I don't think there is a difference between retire/quit
-Its Time-
Comment
03/28/12: The IBM Legal Dept. is also handing
out RA's to IBM Legal Dept. employees. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/28/12:
Charting_H_1B_users_as_attention_shifts_to_L_1
Charting H-1B users, as attention shifts to
L-1. As H-1B visa use stagnates, experts say changes to less strict L-1 could
bring U.S. job losses
Computerworld - WASHINGTON -- Offshore outsourcing firms rely heavily on
the H-1B visa to deliver services, and the chart accompanying this story provide
data on the top users of the visa since 2009.
The chart, compiled from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Service (USCIS) data, provides figures on approvals of both new H-1B visas
and renewals of existing visas (H-1B visas must be renewed every three years).
To calculate largest users of H-1B visas, Computerworld consolidated various
versions (and spellings) of some company names, such as IBM Corp. and IBM
India Private Ltd. [...] -Anon-
Comment
03/27/12: Tomorrow is my last day at IBM, as
is many others, and we all know more to come, I leave having learned a lot,
and worked with many, many of the brightest people, so was good ride while it
lasted, onto the next adventure, now just need to find the key to my Tardis.
-The Dr-
Comment
03/27/12: Rumor is that
the Greenviile SC Outsorcing Services division being sold off to Iron Mountain.
Got this from the team leader in charge of imaging who claims to be protected
and in the know. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/27/12: To It's
Time- First and for most, join the Alliance. 20 yrs, are you at least 55
and are still under the defined pension plan? If so, that is your choice. I
left IBM back in 2007 with almost 24 yrs in L2 Support due to an opportunity
that does not come knocking except for once in a lifetime, I jumped and thankful
for the blessing. I have many friends still at IBM that wish they were somewhere
else. I got a fellow IBMer to join the same company I was employed by back in
2011. Brush up on your skills, join the Alliance and let's try and save what
is left of this once great company everyone wanted to work for ! Unite and stand
strong, join the Alliance! I am a paying member, it's peanuts! Stand up and
do something your children, grand children will be proud of! -Anonymous-
Comment
03/27/12: Well it is time
for me to leave IBM and go to work for ___. Any pro's or con's of retiring vs.
voluntary separation? I have 20 years. -It's Time-
Alliance reply: If you and others come here for answers, don't you think you
should join the organization that makes this available?
Comment
03/27/12: Gone_in_07....
We all have a bitter taste in our mouths, but, I just went to a friend's retirement
lunch, and I am no way a brown noser. I have seen many friends "retire",
that is, RAed over the years. One goes to these "parties" because
you have worked with and respect the person. I also have had some mgr's that
I would never attend their parties, but that is on an individual base. BTW I
have been an active Alliance member since 1999, attended many ASM's and have
passed out more fliers then most.. Even at Somers... -Ich Bin Muede-
Comment
03/26/12: Do you think maybe this posting:
http://www.advertisingideaspro.com/word-of-mouth-advertising-html
might be IBM inspired?
-Just
Me-
Comment
03/26/12: Just heard my old manager is retiring
after 30 years and they are having a get together for him. I can't even imagine
who will go except the anti union brown nosers. We all have a right to get in
that 30 years security and then retire. Organize and Unionize. It's the only
way. Then you can retire after a long and healty career, just like management.
-Gone_in_07-
Comment
03/26/12: Do you have information on US IBM
workers being terminated and the work filled by an L-1 visa holder(offshore
IBM worker brought into the US by IBM). If so, send information to ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
-Alliance-
Comment
03/26/12: The Alliance will be holding rallies
against job cuts and offshoring IBM jobs in April.
If you want to participate or help organize a rally please contact us at
ibmunionalliance@gmail.com -Alliance-
Comment
03/25/12: -No One-: The Alliance has
always been active since 1999 (and it's roots even before that, i.e. the Resistor
and IBMWU). Since IBM has the money, influence, and clout to control public
opinion and the media, I can understand to a degree why you might not have heard
about the Alliance. But the Alliance has been widely quoted in many news articles
over the years since 1999; so if you paid some attention long enough, I think
you could have had a chance to have heard at least a bit mention of the Alliance.
But, yes, America is largely turned against unions, and so the Alliance has
suffered lack of exposure because of it. It does stink that IBMers finally find
out about the Alliance once they are RAed. By why is that so? I don't want to
rant myself. It really does no good for us all! But let's all unite now and
spread the word. Let's expose IBM for what it is. BTW, Keep that "About
Your Company Book"! See how IBM has broken their retirement promise to
us all. Yes, that booklet is proof of why there is a movement to unionize and
why the Alliance is still more than relevant! -IBMUnionYes-
Comment
03/25/12: Ladies and gentlemen, please for your
own job and for our children being raised, stand up. I have been gone from IBM
since 2007 after almost 24 yrs of L2 IBM support. I see great individual talent
be resourced at a alarming rate, to India and else where. Well let me tell you
something. India there really is no Mainframe experience, they are great distributed.
Work ehtic sucks and shoot as soon as they learn something they are walking
next dorr to another company. I say join the Alliance (I have) and what the
spanish say, grow some coohona's. This is just not you anymore, this is about
our children and grand children, we need to fight for them and what little time
we as older workers have. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/25/12: "If you have a union representing
you, your raise will depend on that contract, not an "appraisal" by
your manager. And, any layoffs to occur will have to go thru said union contract.
That is why the middle class thrived when there was unions and is being depleted
now that unions have been declining since 1975. Connect the dots-- decline of
unions = decline of the middle class. -anonymous-"
This post is perhaps the best description in the simplest terms
of why IBMers need to organize. This should be quoted on the front page.
-Exodus2007-
Comment
03/24/12: First, I'm prepared for the rants
from either Alliance readers, or for the moderator.
That said, I found it quite funny to find my 'About Your Company' book of 1981.
I don't see a copyright notice so... do you think there's a market to reprint
this book, as a collector's item? I've lost at least $40K per year * 40 years.
Instead, I received @ $60K cash balance, one time. Yes, please feel free to
rant at me because I never heard of the Alliance until weeks after I lost my
job. And, feel free to rant again, because I didn't then join the Alliance.
My grandfather, and one uncle, were both union members. My father wasn't; however
he was in that fortunate generation - it lasted @ 15 years - to have A PENSION.
So, I guess there was a twenty year window in which a normal working person
might have hoped to have a future. Rant away. -No One-
Comment
03/24/12: A good piece on leadership from 1996.
http://www.opi-inc.com/malden.htm
-Why is IBM one of the 'Most Admired' companies?-
Comment
03/24/12: It costs about a postcard stamp a
day to join the Alliance as a full time member. Now how is that too much to
ask financially -IBMUnionYES-
Comment
03/24/12: I think I know why IBM folks visit
this site and don't join: IBM is full of employee folk who want someone else
to do the fighting for them for free and are brainwashed that unions are bad
for them. This is apathy at it's worst. I am disappointed in almost all IBM
management's actions since Gerstner. I am even more disappointed in most of
my fellow IBM folk who don't join the Alliance but still visit this site. When
are these folk gonna see the light? When are they gonna believe?
-SoBlue-
Comment
03/24/12: If you think you'll be gone by 2015,
don't file "all" of the patents that you are pursuing. Keep a couple
to file after your terminated. If you file, IBM owns them. Once your out you
can pursue them on your own and if successful they will benefit you rather than
the Greedy Bastards. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/23/12: I've often wondered why so many people
visit the Alliance site -- yet so few people join. Since I don't believe there's
anyone working for IBM who can't afford $10 a month, then I assume that it's
one of three things:
1) You're afraid you won't be anonymous and someone "higher up" will
find out and fire you
2) You don't believe in unions
3) You don't think it will do any good and that the Alliance will never get
enough people on board to actually form a union.
First off, as the Alliance has said repeatedly in this forum, it's not possible
for IBM to find out who you are if you want to remain anonymous. It would be
illegal for them to try. So you can put yourself at ease for #1.
If you don't believe in unions -- or if you don't believe enough people will
join the Alliance to form one, let me offer you this thought: Why are you here
reading this? Because the Alliance is practically the only source that exists
for real information about what is happening in the company. IBM is certainly
not going to provide you with all of the dirty secrets they like to hide. I
am happy to be a member and pay my $10 a month to, if for not other reason,
support their efforts and get at least some information about what is going
on. You should be too. Become a member and support the Alliance. -Big
Blue Bayou Alliance member-
Comment
03/23/12: Yes, I know I will likely be gone
by 2015. So be it. Welcome to corporate America. The new era is start ups. I
wish a union would help. But, until the American people wake up, it is a lost
cause. Perhaps it may start soon. I just don't see it. We have some of the dumbest
and smartest people in the world. I'm just concerned about the balance... My
advice, if you work here at IBM, then don't rely on your job. If you have a
plan B, C, and D they can't take anything from you and your stress goes way
down. Use them, don't let them use you. Build your skills, gain knowledge, and
don't do stupid jobs that won't benefit you. The US economy today is all about
self interest. If you play your cards right, you can use IBM to propel you into
something great. The days of working at IBM for 30-40 years are gone. We can
debate whether that is good or bad for eternity. Personally, I only do jobs
that help me, I focus on technical jobs popular on LinkedIn and other soft skills.
If that makes me an RA candidate, so be it. I'll take the package and move on
to something much better. As for those complaining that they are working too
many hours. IBM does not have a gun to your head. I worked seven days a week
in 2011. No more. Now, I work five days. I told my manager I will not do that
job anymore. I'm focused and work hard. But I refuse to work the weekend. If
that means I get canned, fine. We all need to take responsibility. If you believe
in economics, IBM will not be able to do this forever. The market will shift
eventually back to an employee market. Overseas costs will increase, and skill
levels will not keep up. I'm not opposed to unions. I just think the current
US climate is. With that said, even if you feel Alliance is right in the smallest
way, I suggest you join. At a minimal, they do provide valuable statistics and
work with government officials. The dues are cheap. Good luck everyone. It is
no different than supporting a church, NPR, or whatever your favorite cause
it... -AcceptReality-
Comment
03/22/12: If you have a union representing you,
your raise will depend on that contract, not an "appraisal" by your
manager. And, any layoffs to occur will have to go thru said union contract.
That is why the middle class thrived when there was unions and is being depleted
now that unions have been declining since 1975. Connect the dots-- decline of
unions = decline of the middle class. -anonymous-
Comment
03/22/12: -Trouble-O-7- Yep, the only
execution IBM knows how to do is the EXECUTION it's employees jobs. At least
so far, Rometty is not a liar as Sammy was. But give her a chance and I know
she will not disappoint in this regard! -anonymous-
Alliance reply:
All the more reason to organize those still at IBM and fight for
a contract that slows the process down and protects IBMers from this kind of
treachery. Get busy fighting for your jobs or get busy losing them.
Comment
03/22/12: 50,000 of you 'do-nothing but ignore
RAs' will be gone by 2015. IBM will also take every benefit you have away from
you and break every promise it ever made. So sit tight, continue to just "observe"
the Alliance instead of joining and enjoy your coming RA. -Nothings-
Comment
03/22/12: This in 2005 --> IBM_signs_730M_IT_services_deal_with_Disney
vs 2012 -->
https://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/news/blogpost/10882769/
-Anonymous-
Comment
03/22/12: Seen this stuff many times, all signs
leading to layoff in Tivoli soon. People being moved to new assignments in a
hurry, others being moved into different departments, some management taking
positions outside of Tivoli. Wouldn't be surprised if something is announced
next week but this is just a hunch. -longtimebeemer-
Comment
03/22/12: Here's someone who managed to get
some media attention regarding her IBM layoff-
in-obama-donation-a-message-from-a-laid-off-ibm-worker
-Anonymous-
Comment
03/21/12: Right, a disciplined execution of
IBM employees. Very, very sad Ginny. I hope you are haunted with your bad management
decisions and have nightmares. -GhostOfChristmasPast-
Comment
03/21/12: "Disciplined Execution"?
I called it the 2/27/12 Massacre. I have 27yrs with the company and was RA'd
on this black Monday. My mgr told me in Aug, 2011 that I was performing at bwn
2 and 2+. So it was a shock to find out at evaluation time that my rate went
down to 3 with all fictitious explanations. Needless to say that this contributed
to my getting on the chopping block. Mind you, I was always a 2to2+ employee.
Signed: -Another Disgruntled Employee-
Comment
03/21/12: Hi - Not sure if you have this number
yet, but just in case. Thanks for sharing the info to all of us. AMS IBM Global
Account - Employees Selected -2012RA-
Alliance reply: Thank you. This is already on our
list on this page:
ibmJobCuts2-27-2012.htm
To all: If you see that your RA is not listed, please send doc to ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
Comment
03/20/12:
http://blog.contractcentral.com/ibm-cuts-more-workers-pushing-layoff-count-to-nearly-1800-2421.htm#comment-1590
Here’s how one disgruntled IBMer described the latest
cuts:
“1,790 American employees have been executed under
operation roadkill so far in 2012. 2,210 more to come this year to make the
2015 roadmap. The disciplined execution continues. War has been declared on
the people of the United States of America. We need to unite and fight back!
Don’t let the American dream die. One RA at at time, they want you gone.
The fight is on — Save America!”
The posting name: “Joe Punchclock.” The reference to “disciplined
execution” is to CEO Virginia Rometty’s letter to shareholders
in IBM’s annual report for 2011 in which she cites “disciplined
execution” as a key factor in Big Blue’s continuing success.
It sounds like “disciplined execution” is the new
millenium equivalent of “final solution”. IBM legal is very clever
in keeping the numbers in any one area under the radar of the “Warn
Act”. The IBM founders are rolling in their graves. -Trouble-O-7-
Comment
03/19/12: I see a union working for those in
customer facing positions if enough join up. Programmers are screwed as they
have no leverage to negotiate with. The business sees programmers as interchangeable
commodities these days. Entire products are being moved as we speak. Sametime
is already gone from the US. The bean counters are giddy with the concept that
they can get 5 programmers off shore for the price of 1 US programmer. If test
has already been moved for your product, the rest will be following.
-Gettin-Hosed-
Alliance reply: Programmers are only screwed if
they let themselves be. Why remain silent? Organize, fight back, distribute
leaflets, talk to your co-workers. Join us in rallies over offshoring jobs.
There is lot to do.
Comment
03/18/12: Three things to make perfectly clear
about the Health Care Flex Spending Account:
1) If you are contributing, say $100 or $200 per month and you leave in March
for any reason, you can spend the whole year's $1200 or $2400 today, get the
check for the whole amount, and you never have to pay anything back. It's
tough luck for IBM that they are out the money. The opposite side of use it
or lose it we had to worry about.
2) If you are contributing, say $100 or $200 per month and you leave in March
for any reason, you can spend the whole year's $1200 or $2400 today, get the
check for the whole amount, and you never have to pay anything back. It's
tough luck for IBM that they are out the money. The opposite side of use it
or lose it we had to worry about.
3) If you are contributing, say $100 or $200 per month and you leave in March
for any reason, you can spend the whole year's $1200 or $2400 today, get the
check for the whole amount, and you never have to pay. anything back. It's
tough luck for IBM that they are out the money. The opposite side of use it
or lose it we had to worry about.
If anyone ever knows they are going to leave early in the next year, please
sign up for the maximum amount allowed and spend it on Jan 2 on a long list
of items. It will all be out of IBM's pocket.
For more information: For assistance, please contact Customer
Service at: 1.888.880.2775, TTY 1.877.314.2240 Monday through Friday 8am to
8pm Eastern Time. -Must Spend Today
the Whole Year's Flex HCRA - Today Stupid-
Comment
03/18/12: -Exodus2007-: The problem
I see with IBMers not joining is because they don't have the cash. Maybe the
Alliance should make the membership free to all IBMers. Surely there are Alliance
supporters out there with some extra cash to help the Alliance pay the bills.
-NoMoney-
Alliance reply: We realize it is a tough economy and wages are not keeping up,
but our dues are only $10 a month for full membership and $5 a month for associate
membership. It is very hard to believe that IBMers can't afford that. The Alliance
has manufacturing workers that pay dues and they are low on the pay scale. We
even have members who are out of work paying dues.
Higher paid employees can't? It is really about priorities isn't it? Starbucks
or Alliance dues?
"Free membership" means we shut down.
Comment
03/18/12: I got the layoff notice on 3/11/2012
because I was out of town on 2/27/2012...
I have 30 days to find a job. I was there for 7 years. My job was cut after
I got denied the chance to transfer to another group 9 months ago. they blocked
the new group from opening a rec for me, and then gave me a PBC3 and put me
on the RA list in Jan... 9 months of training my replacements to get the AX
by those unethical *%#@&$. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/17/12: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexible_spending_account
One consideration regarding medical FSAs is that the participating
employee's entire annual contribution is available at the start of the plan
year, commonly January 1, or after the first contribution to the FSA is received
by the FSA vendor, depending on the plan. Therefore, if the employee experiences
a qualifying event during the first period, the entire amount of the annual
contribution can be claimed against the FSA benefits. If the employee is terminated,
quits, or is unable to return to work, he or she does not have to repay the
money to the employer. If a company plans to lay off some employees, and announces
such plans, then if multiple employees use their entire flexible benefit before
they are terminated, that may cause the company to have to reimburse the plan.
Typically, however, employers do not announce layoffs for specific employees
with enough notice for employees to use the available benefits, and employees
may actually lose their contributions in addition to being laid off.
-MaxingMineNow-
Comment
03/17/12: Not in a million years would I join
some type of of union organization. Yet I did; the Alliance@IBM. I think the
chances of any type of union having an impact at IBM are very unlikely, especially
now. Yet even so, they are the only ones educating IBM workers on what is going
on. Clearly IBM management has been instructed not to talk about it. I have
been with IBM quite a long time. I saw things change from where almost no one
ever got fired to now. In the 90's IBM was in big trouble; there was talk of
breaking the company up and things had to change. They did, but things have
continued to change--drastically. I guess IBM can come up with any business
strategy they want. They have chosen to shift work overseas more and more, even
at the expense of customer service. They obviously have decided the savings
more than offset the disadvantages (poorer quality, lost customers etc.). I
hope, and expect, in the long term their strategy will be proven wrong; at least
to the extent they are following it. Although I have my job for now, I'm sure
I will be gone long before then. I am not going to
disparage workers in other countries; they didn't force IBM management to go
this route and they want to make a living too. However, I don't believe IBM
is entitled to tax breaks etc. when they are shifting so many jobs overseas.
I also think they should be willing to come clean on their goals and not be
circumventing things like the WARN act. Obviously, they could handle the whole
situation with regards to reducing US headcount much better. In the past IBM
felt their employees were their most important asset. Definitely not anymore.
The only advice I can give anyone at this point is don't fall in love with your
job or your company. Don't assume you will be with the company for many years--assume
you won't. As a professional I will continue to do my job, but my loyalty to
and respect for IBM is long gone. Even if you generally are very doubtful about
unions (like me), you should at least consider joining. If nothing else, it
can help you know what you can (and cannot) expect in your relationship with
this company. Yeah, you can probably get that information from them for free,
but providing it isn't really free to them. -NotTheIBMIJoined-
Comment
03/17/12: 1,790 American employees have been
executed under operation roadkill so far in 2012. 2,210 more to come this year
to make the 2015 roadmap. The disciplined execution continues. War has been
declared on the people of the United States of America. We need to unite and
fight back! Don't let the American dream die. One RA at at time, they want you
gone. The fight is on -- Save America! -Joe Punchclock-
Alliance Reply: Saving America is a tall order; but saving IBMers jobs in America
and getting written and signed contract between IBM and IBM IT workers is a
good start.
Comment
03/17/12: I think its time IBMers realize that
the continuing abuse is really their problem. Not the executives. After the
first say 10 Resource Actions they have no one to thank but their co-workers
who will not organize to stop this madness. IBMers can really no longer pretend
its something new and they did not think it would continue. Have all of you
gotten the person who you see in the mirror to sign up as full members? I didn't
think so. Still buying those 5 dollar coffees at Starbucks? Give 2 a month up
for the cause. Make your whole life better, not just your coffee break for 2
days. This situation within IBM can be fixed but only by workers uniting across
America. -Exodus2007-
Comment
03/17/12:
AstraZeneca was also a big account IBM lost that
HCL is taking over. Where did the IBMers working on AstraZeneca go? The State
of Texas kicked out IBM in favor of Capgemini and Xerox to take over that contract
that big blue blew:
http://informationweek.com/news/government/state-local/232602653
So I am sure the IBMers assigned to AstraZeneca and State of Texas will be RA
toast soon. Like an RA, why doesn't this make big news? IBM sure seems to get
to obfuscate it. -anonymous-
Comment
03/17/12: Roadmap to 2015 formula is simple:
Disciplined Execution = Resource Actions -Einsteiner-
Comment
03/17/12: IBM management was sure they had it
locked because IBM has become such a Mickey Mouse corporation they believed
they were the perfect fit. IBM executives do not lose their jobs over poor performance.
They will have a blame storming session, Find a low level person to blame and
go happily on their way while the employees that serviced the Disney Contract
line up for jobs running rides. Maybe Disney will take pity on them because
IBM executives sure as hell won't. -Exodus2007-
Comment
03/17/12: IBM loses yet another contract! IBM
Lost the Disney contract to India based IT services company HCL. IBM & contract
employees informed today. Transition to occur over the next several months which
is to start in the coming weeks. -anonymous-
Comment
03/16/12: Was RA'ed in 2008. It hasn't been
easy. Posting this link:
http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/family/story/10826556/
Thanks Sam for making my life a living hell since 2008. It's finally about to
get back to normal though. -outofibm2008-
Comment
03/16/12: Disney employees were told today that
the big outsourcing contract with IBM had NOT been renewed and was instead given
to another company HCL. IBM management however, is yet to inform its employees.
IBM bigwigs had been touting for months that it was a done deal. However, Disney
management decided otherwise. Wonder if any VPs and Executives will lose their
jobs over this. IBMers have till the end of July to transition. So more RAs
and cuts on the cards. -Another_worried_IBMer-
Comment
03/16/12: Does anybody know of IBM losing out
on the Disney contract renewal, today? Guess more job cuts on the hapless employees.
-Anon-
Comment
03/16/12: I was told that within GBS, there
is no transfer and no exception. When applying jobs in other organizations (eg.
Software group..), all the jobs I am qualified for, are only available for people
in their own organization. I did try one job in CHQ and was told that they won't
even talk to me because I am on the 'list'. Get real! The 30-day finding job
internally is just a joke, a propaganda. -Another GBS AIS-
Alliance Reply: Sorry for your job loss...and we
say again: This is the REAL policy of IBM. Lie to the employees, no matter what.
IBM has been doing this for several years. You see, IBM Corporate determines
what you will be told. IBM Corporate policy determines what will happen to you.
A collectively bargained union contract is the ONLY document that can alter
the power of IBM's policies and level the playing field between IBM workers
and Corporate management. Until IBM workers organize and fight to HAVE a union
contract, IBM will never "be straight" with you.
Believe it. Encourage your soon-to-be former co-workers to join Alliance@IBM
and fight for a collectively bargained contract.
Comment
03/16/12: Thankfully, I left IBM awhile ago.
When there though, the thing that really bothered me was some IBM employees
trying to do such a great job training their offshore replacements. Perhaps
these people think they'll save their jobs (while sacrificing others). If they
look in the mirror, they'll see a brown nose holding a pink slip.
-anon-
Comment
03/16/12: In terms of "dead wood",
if there were any, they were removed back in the early 90s. Any cut since then
has been down to the marrow. I still work there but I've also seen quite a few
leave voluntarily saying they weren't going to wait for the axe. So like someone
else said, easier to find a job if you have one already. It really is sad, getting
killed by the competition but shooting ourselves in the foot by removing so
many U.S.-based dedicated loyal workers just to offshore and make more profit.
Its unsustainable. -Michael2010-
Comment
03/16/12: Here's another example of unhappy
IBM customer finally doing something about it. IBM credibility going down the
tubes.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/state-local/232602653
-beenthere-
Comment
03/16/12: A post at Glassdoor. Those in India
don't necessarily have it good. Read this for some insight:
http://tinyurl.com/7f5tj52
-anonymous-
Comment
03/16/12: "Here is where the money
is going!!!
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/news/blogpost/10853919/
-Hangingon-"
Notice in Sam's list of four questions The investor comes first, the customer
second, society as a whole is third and employees are last. How do you as IBM
employees intend to fix this? Hopefully not just sit on your hands and do nothing.
-Anonymous-
Comment
03/15/12: Manpower employees working at IBM
are being told that their pay is being cut and they are not to mention this
to co-workers or to IBM employees! -paycut-
Comment
03/15/12: Why does IBM even bother pretending
that you can transfer internally and get removed from the RA? It is complete
bullshit. A GPS PM said he wanted me on his team. His manager said he wanted
to bring me on. But the manager above that nixed the deal. At least be straight
with me and don't waste time I need to be spending on my external job hunt on
something that can't happen!!! -GBS AIS-
Alliance Reply: This is the REAL policy of IBM. Lie to the employees, no matter
what. IBM has been doing this for several years. You see, IBM Corporate determines
what you will be told. IBM Corporate policy determines what will happen to you.
A collectively bargained union contract is the ONLY document that can alter
the power of IBM's policies and level the playing field between IBM workers
and Corporate management. Until IBM workers organize and fight to HAVE a union
contract, IBM will never "be straight" with you.
Believe it. Encourage your soon-to-be former co-workers to join Alliance@IBM
and fight for a collectively bargained contract.
Comment
03/15/12: Here is where the money is going!!!
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/news/blogpost/10853919/
-Hangingon-
Comment
03/15/12: To -Puzzled Too-: the WARN
Act can be interpreted to apply only when more than 500 employees AT A SINGLE
SITE are laid off. "IBM's 'stealth' layoffs skirt the Warn Act with small
numbers at many locations on different dates. Instead of 60 days notice and
pay, we get 30."
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/news/blogpost/10808900
I believe the executives' main motivation is not to avoid paying 60 days'
notice, but to minimize publicity. The only numbers now are via Alliance@IBM.
That's one reason I'm a member. -Gorya-
Comment
03/15/12: I think many of us need to know how
many foreign nationals are working at IBM while US citizens get RA'd. How many
are working on government contracts? Isn't this illegal? -RA'd-
Comment
03/15/12: Has the Neufeld memo been effectively
overturned, removing all obstacles for international body shops to replace locals
once more?
http://www.bradenton.com/2012/03/14/3938574/new-guidance-confirming-staffing.html
-Barb-
Comment
03/15/12: IBM Management is off shoring jobs
for one reason to save money. Make your interaction with off shored operations
as inefficient as possible. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/15/12: How can US citizens work together
to "End tax incentives for companies that offshore American jobs"?
Corporations, not kings, now rule the world. The only way to fight back or protect
ourselves as US citizens is to unionize, or change the law to hit them where
it hurts. The bottom line is all that matters to our executive masters.
Let's build a Smarter Planet and re-instate "Respect for
the individual" as one of our IBM Basic Beliefs and core values. Get Smart,
or Get RA'ed. The choice is ours. -Joe Punchclock-
Comment
03/14/12: Last week I reported 112 laid off
in HR Talent (Corporate). Why aren't you reporting it? -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: We received the RA pack. We have
added the number to the list.
Comment
03/14/12: There were more than 1650 RA'ed in
this round. Some have not reported numbers. I do not see my organization mentioned,
but I know we had layoffs. Some do not report them to the Alliance for fear
of losing their packages. There were definitely more than 1650.
-Anonymous-
Comment
03/14/12: 4,000 USA workers were layed-off in
2010. So far this year we have 1,650. To reach 2010 levels means another big
layoff coming this year. Good luck. -Joe Punchclock-
Comment
03/13/12: I thought I would get 60 days but
my exit date is March 28. What about the WARN Act for employers with 100 employees
or more? -Puzzled Too-
Alliance reply: IBM has been playing games with
the WARN act for years.
We need more people asking their State representatives to investigate IBM job
cuts.
Comment
03/13/12: If you're pissed off, the best way
to get back at IBM is to start supporting the union in any way possible. At
the very least, print out some flyers (on your home printer, not IBM's printers),
and put them in your site's lunch and break rooms (not during your working shift,
though). If you follow the rules, this is a protected right that IBM cannot
punish you for. An even better action would be to join Alliance. A big uptick
in Alliance membership would send a big chill down IBM's spine.
-Flabbergasted-
Comment
03/13/12: Fight back!! These fat cats are getting
fatter at our expense. We're gonna be roadkill if we don't fight!!
-Also employed-
Comment
03/13/12: I was not a big fan of Unions but
"2015 Growth Targets" has changed my mind. If you are afraid to talk
with CO workers print up some fliers and put them up at your locations.
http://www.endicottalliance.org/rightsatwork.htm
-don't want to be next-
Comment
03/12/12: -Puzzled - Also, easier to
get a job when you have a job. Ride it out as long as you can. Good luck.
-RA's in 2009-
Comment
03/12/12: -Puzzled- Check your paperwork.
I was extended last year but I could leave anytime after 60 days and still gotten
the package. -Been There-
Comment
03/12/12: To -puzzled-:Accept the package
and then stay until they don't want you anymore. Don't work hard, just enough
not to be bored. You will have gotten a few more weeks of pay and then will
get the package when they ask you to leave again; as they already plan to do.
-NO_KY-
Alliance reply: And talk up the Alliance to those that didn't get RA'd!
Comment
03/12/12: ibm-well-on-track-to-achieve-2015-growth-targets-new-ceo-rometty-says
Notice that job cuts will be at the 2010 level. You can't say
you weren't warned.
Are we going to let ourselves be pushed off the cliff or will we fight back?
I choose to fight! -employee-
Comment
03/12/12: Off shoring is very profitable to
those at the top.
http://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/51143.htm
-Anonymous-
Comment
03/12/12: -Anonymous-: You can't take
the package and then quit. You have to stay until IBM tells you you're done.
Otherwise you lose the package. It doesn't work both ways without a union.
-dun-4-
Comment
03/11/12: Dear Summer, RA means "Resource
Action". You are simply a resource at IBM. Just a number. IBM has decided
that they want to get rid of you. You have two options. You can accept the package
and leave or stay for 60 days and let them beat you up and and then get fired.
It sounds like you made the right choice. All the best in your future endeavors.
Keep your head up and keep looking forward and try to forget the psychological
damage from IBM. Been there, don't do that. -Counselor-
Comment
03/11/12: Read the short story called "The
Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. Being RAed is like getting the black dot.
Just shows how sadistic this IBM really is. -Anonymouser-
Comment
03/10/12: -Puzzled-, Take the package,
cash the check and then quit, especially if you are in a Right to Work State.
Works both ways, tell them for any reason or no reason. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/09/12: Manager called me this morning to
tell me that they want to extend me past March 28th. Can't tell me if it's a
month, 2 months or more. But if they extend me and I decline the extension I
loose my package. Let the games begin. More playing with peoples lives, emotions,
well being. -puzzled-
Comment
03/09/12: The best wood has left. Those that
pushed others out are left. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/09/12: -Very Discouraged- Hey thanks
for calling all of us that went before "dead wood". Are you a member
of the Alliance? Will you be the next "dead wood". There is no wood,
just worker-units to be disposed of. Good luck in your next job. -Neal
Watkins-
Comment
03/09/12: What is RA? I was terminated last
month by IBM. They give you 2 choices. 1) accept a package 2) go on a 60 day
plan and be terminated. The acceptance package says you agree with the termination.
IBM strongly suggests you choose this option. For me it was 2 weeks pay and
thats all. The termination choice gives you 60 days more pay and health benefits.
What's an RA? -Summer-
Comment
03/09/12: The dead wood is gone they are now
starting to prune the live branches, unfortunately there is no room left on
the tree to graft the limbs back somewhere else, so they need to go to the dumpster.
If we don't want to fight for ourselves think of our children and grand children.
Our generations legacy is going to be the one that let the US IT Industry disappear.
-Very Discouraged-
Comment
03/08/12: IBM death by 1000 cuts. Or 1650 cuts
as it is this time. Have you joined the Alliance yet? (sounds kinda like Star
Wars) Or do you just hope to survive the next round of "IBM Whack-A_Mole"?
I have been a member for a number of years but I'm always astounded every time
a new round of cuts comes up. IBM'ers say "Why Me? I've done an exceptional
job. I'm a good mushroom." and they all rush to the Alliance site looking
for advice and for somebody to "Do something". This last round of
cuts generated 13000 hits on the website and yet the Alliance has only 250 actual
members (like me). The Beamers whine and complain but go quietly back to their
cubicles hoping to avoid the next round. The ones that were cut have that "Deer
in the headlights" look but still they want somebody else to do something
for them. When did IBM'ers become so timid and so malleable? -Neal
Watkins-
Comment
03/08/12: -yourhelpneeded-
So you think your one of a few tens of thousands that IBM wronged
by an RA? You think you have a case then why did tens of thousands get RAed
with no legal remedy? Hate to say it a lawyer now will do you know good but
if joined the union along with those that also got RA might have done you better.
-sad_but_true-
Comment
03/08/12: I know Div 68, IBM CHQ Human Resources
was also hit hard, but I don't see it listed. I've been trying to get a hold
of a package, but so far no luck. If anyone has that one, please forward it
on the the Alliance. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/08/12:
-myturn- Just called the number you listed (800-796-9876).
Selected option 6 and got the following automated message, "Please be advised,
we are experiencing high call volumes. Please wait on the line or send an email
to...". Looks like the IBM HR department is getting a lot of business.
Lots casualties on the Road to 2015. -2015 Roadmap Roadkill-
Comment
03/08/12: pbc appeal failed - looks like if
any RA in the UK I will be losing my job, you just cannot beat them was told
on my call i am a solid pbc 2 but peers performed better even though i brought
in revenue- i give and look forward to losing my job and home -beatenInUK-
Comment
03/08/12: Call 800-796-9876 opt 6, 6. The IBM
Separation Allowance plan is a different program from the RA. You are entitled
to the 1 week severance per 6 mos worked up to a max of 26 weeks (if that was
your question). Cheers -Reply to "myturn"-
Comment
03/08/12: Hmmmm. If I am working at home and
join the union that makes my work location 100 percent union. I wonder how the
NLRB would rate that? -Exodous2007-
Comment
03/08/12: Individual Separation Allowance is
for those who are separated from IBM but not through a resource action. The
RA package will detail the separation allowance instead. The employee may be
eligible for the retirement bridge, generally the same terms (within one year
of retirement eligibility) as in the IBM Separation Allowance. If you receive
a severance under an R/A then you aren't eligible to double-dip into the IBM
Separation Allowance. That's my take, since you asked. See-Employee-Services
-Poughkeepsie Engineer-
Comment
03/08/12: A request to Alliance: Please create
a fresh flyer that refers to the current RA so we can distribute in break and
lunch rooms while interest in unionizing is higher than normal. It might also
be good to mention Chile's and Argentina's recent successful union campaigns
to give folks some evidence that this is not an impossible goal. Thanks.
-Flabbergasted-
Alliance Reply: Go to this link: Flyers
and select the most recent. One is a pdf file and the other is a doc file. They
both should download for you. If you have any problems, please let me know.
Comment
03/08/12: Can you recommend a lawyer or firm
who knows how to review a package from IBM, Northeast USA please. Lots to understand
and I need help. - yourhelpneeded-
Comment
03/08/12: I read this in my package and don't
understand it
"Employees who are identified for permanent layoff under the resource action
are ineligible for the IBM Separation Allowance Plan (however, employees may
be eligible for a Retirement Bridge associated with the resource action. The
terms and conditions of the Resource Action Retirement Bridges are contained
in an attachment or amendment to this document. IBM, in its sole discretion,
will determine for whom the resource action is intended.Employees who are identified
for permanent layoff under the resource action are ineligible for the IBM Separation
Allowance Plan (however, employees may be eligible for a Retirement Bridge associated
with the resource action. The terms and conditions of the Resource Action Retirement
Bridges are contained in an attachment or amendment to this document. IBM, in
its sole discretion, will determine for whom the resource action is intended."
What do you get from this? -myturn-
Comment
03/08/12: Only this company knows how to suck
blood out of their employees for their profit by making them work 7 days. Congratulations
ibm for recognising next to the hell or I should say jail. Hmmm -Joe-
Comment
03/07/12: You bunch are so pathetic. Sorry to
state a fact. Only 1650 IBMers lose their jobs and you are calling for all out
uproar. Soon when the 1650 leave, you'll all calm down and continue to do nothing.
Except whine. And wait for the next purge later this year. The Alliance has
been busting their a$$ trying to get you IBM sheeple to see the light and you
still don't have the mind to flock together and join the union cause. What is
it going to take? Are you listening? -anonymous-
Comment
03/07/12: "Can something be done in
the way of getting something on the Shareholders ballots given the Stockholders
meeting is next month?"
Like what? BTW, Alliance members have been putting out stockholder proposals
since 1999. Unfortunately, all have failed to be adopted by IBM Management since
they control the stockholders meeting and get the institutional stockholders
to vote their way. -anonymous-
Comment
03/07/12: Did anyone notice IBM has quietly
closed almost every office in the US? Reason was given that "IBM is no
longer in the real estate business". In Atlanta, for instance, keys to
both huge buildings were given back to the owners and IBM sneaked out Dec 31,
2011 after giving the perm office holders 1 wk notice. Cafeteria, Credit Union
etc have also closed. Approx 2500 people were perm residents of the buildings,
and most were given 60 days to work from home. If they could not find another
position that is specifically remote, they must move to Poughkeepsie - or be
fired. On the other hand, some were given remote positions with no question.
In any event, the buildings are now empty. -Buckwheat-
Comment
03/07/12: Monday Feb 27 was an unforgettable
day at IBM Poughkeepsie. I saw almost everyone was openly crying and visibly
upset even they weren't affected. As many as 1/4 of the people in my Dept got
laidoff. From where I came from I could say more. Let me get to the point that
the recent resource action had absolutely nothing to do how IBM is doing in
America!!!! Not only because IBM had to reduce headcount to meet the goal of
$20 EPS by 2015, but because our corporate execs rake in millions dollars for
their bonus. I saw my employees work very hard and put in many long hours to
help make it look good for our execs.They never thanked us and we were robbed
by the fat cats at IBM. -Because of the Fat Cats at IBM-
Comment
03/07/12: So, when you say you need people to
Join the Alliance, which membership category do you need the numbers to be in?
I will do what I can in spreading the word. I'm assuming you need the numbers
in the Voting Category, is that correct? With GDP coming out March 15, you'd
think it would be to everyone's advantage to take $120 out of that and put it
towards a good cause !!! Let's go people! -Anon-
Alliance reply: Signing up in any of the 3 catagories signifies support for
the Alliance.
When we see enough signers we will do a blitz of official union vote authorization
cards.
This could be in any number of scenarios. We strongly encourage employees to
become dues paying members because that is how we pay for the organizing campaign,
resources, materials etc.
Comment
03/07/12: Science and Engineering workforce
has stalled in the US? Well Yeah. Given the way companies like IBM treat scientists
and engineers this doesn't surprise me at all. Who the heck wants to be a scientist
or engineer and get laid off by some big fat slob CEO like 3-Finger Lou, Sammy,
or Ginni? What a joke. -engineer and not proud-
Comment
03/07/12: Only 250 members and 13,000 hits we
all deserve exactly what is happening to us. The Board and Senior management
are laughing all the way to the E*Trade office to deposit there stock options.
-Very Discouraged-
Comment
03/07/12: well we have linkedin, twitter, facebook,
etc. we can target groups that technical people would join and also IBM employee
specific groups and get the word out. -GetTheWordOutThere-
Comment
03/07/12: How many people work form home making
organizing a "location" difficult? Not only did IBM reduce their expens
on buildings & property, they "divided & conquered".-working-from-home-
Alliance reply: About 40% are work from home or mobile and yes that
makes organizing, identifying them and outreach very difficult. For those that
have email lists of these people please send to the Alliance at ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
Comment
03/07/12: Visibility,
logically is the first step. If 50,000 members are needed to "do this"...we
better start thinking of alternate ways to reach everyone. Word of mouth will
only go so far. The easiest way would be to get an email to everyone. The alliance
was blocked? Try again! -LetsGoCWA-
Alliance reply: When the Alliance is blocked we always find "alternatives".
We need to use all our tools, but that means members and supporters must reach
out further to employees and on and on, by all means.
Comment
03/07/12: Can something be done in the way of
getting something on the Shareholders ballots given the Stockholders meeting
is next month? I'm tempted to vote down everything this current Board proposes
as the current IBM does not stand for the IBM I joined 20+ years back. Obtaining
50K members for the Alliance to fight these battles is such a HUGE number, where
many are just plain unwilling to join, as no matter what you tell them, they
still feel threatened to join in fear of losing their jobs that much quicker.
I hear the message loud and clear but I am fearful that others will not budge!
-Anon-
Comment
03/07/12: Here, here, FreeBird. Couldn't have
said it better myself. -juggernaut-
Comment
03/07/12: The best boycott would be to join
the Alliance@IBM. This would send a message that you are mad as hell and you
are not going to take this abuse any more. -boycott-by-Union-
Comment
03/07/12: The Alliance@IBM has about 250 members.
In order to bring the IBM execs to the bargaining table, it needs about 50,000!
For my part, I talk about unionizing with other IBMers at least 2-3 times a
week but, at the current rate of growth, I just don't see how this union can
grow to 50,000 strong in my lifetime :-( Perhaps something different can be
tried? Perhaps the Alliance@IBM can announce the start of an electronic sign-up
drive of some sort? In the wake of the recent layoffs, if the media is tipped
off, such an effort would most likely be mentioned in the papers or on the news.
Given the atrocities being committed by IBM, thousands of IBMers would join
if only they were made aware. Is this an option? - Discouraged-
Alliance reply: First of all it is very difficult to reach all IBM employees
by email. IBM has blocked us before and will surely do so again. We need people
on the ground pointing workers to our web site and encouraging them to sign
up and join the Alliance. We also need strong organizing committees on site
and in business units. We need employees willing to be public leaders of this
movement.
In the meantime, there is much the Alliance can do as an advocate for employees
and a pressure group inside IBM. But we need to be stronger.
Comment
03/07/12: Many people here are begrudging IBM
for its lavish conferences like Pulse. As a past participant in these types
of conferences, I can tell you they are NO fun. Under the thin veneer of IBM
innovation and all the rah-rah, there is a cynical undercurrent flowing through
the air thick enough to cut with a bread-knife. Seems deep inside, most veteran
IBMers know that IBM is a house of cards built on deceptive marketing, senseless
layoffs and failed deliveries but nevertheless continue to be the enablers of
the masquerade in order to survive. During these conferences, when you are with
other senior IBMers in a group, the short-sighted focus on EPS, the offshoring
and the insecurity due to cost-cutting are the big elephants ever present in
the room but no one dare speak of them. Instead what you witness is soul-destroying
cult-like spectacle of empty-suit executives attempting to justify their job
using cliched speeches, cronies and lackeys blatantly polishing their butts
without asking a single uncomfortable question and the rest walking on eggshells
or jockeying to be among the "last-men-standing" in the political
survival games being played out in IBM everyday. Ugh! What a toxic environment.
-FreeBird-
Comment
03/07/12: The clients offshoring their own employees
dont care if we are also, they just want the same level of service they are
used to. It's no longer the case that if you hire IBM you wont get fired for
the decision like it was 15 years ago though -Anonymous-
Comment
03/07/12: @Joe, The 7 whole shares of IBM stock
is a carrot on a stick to try retain people during these abusive times. Most
in the US will be RA'd by the time (2015 Roadkill) the carrot drops. -Blind-Sided-
Comment
03/06/12: I've seen a lot of posts about advising
& boycotting the clients who do business with IBM. Sounds good, but do you
realize that a great deal of IBM customers themselves are also off shoring jobs?
Do you think they are going to take the side of the American public when they
themselves are screwing their own employees? Someone mentioned getting the government
involved...Alliance has some awesome links to articles speaking directly to
the legislation on the tables. We need to get vocal outside of forums, emails,
Twitter & Facebook and be heard where it counts! I guess I lived in a cave
for the past 16 years because I only heard of Alliance once prior to 2/27. I
should have climbed out of that cave then and maybe I would still have a job
come 3/29. Pass the word, some folks are still living in that cave I was in.
-Ciao Big Blue-
Comment
03/06/12: shooting down lots of suggestions
but what exatcly does "organize" mean. If all 13,000 people that visited
the site the other day joined, would that have been enough to call for the NLRB
election? Is there a way for the alliance to mass mail every IBM employee to
get their attention. -WhatNOW?-
Alliance reply: This is on our main page under organizing:
http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/how_to_organize_a_union
We need a majority to call for a vote in an appropriate bargaining unit. An
example of an appropriate bargaining unit would be the GDF's sites or all SSR's.
Another example would be Fishkill and Burlington manufacturing workers. This
is all determined by the Labor Board, IBM and the union when we have enough
signers to call for a vote.
Comment
03/06/12: Here is a fool proof plan for everyone
at IBM who reads this to follow to make their workplace better and stress levels
lower. First get the person you see everytime you look in the mirror to join
the Alliance. Next whenever a coworker complains about things at IBM just ask
them have they joined the Alliance and if not they have no reason to waste your
time complaining if they are not willing to do even the simplest thing to fix
things. Being nice and listening to people whine who will not take action has
not gotten us anywhere. Maybe its time to make them put up or shut up. Either
way you won't have to stress out listening to them complain so you win either
way! I wanna be like Ginny. I want a contract! -Exodus2007-
Comment
03/06/12: A list should be made up of all of
IBM's major accounts and letters should be sent to the CEO's of those companies
that states the level of service provided in there contracts will be far less
or non existent due the continued layoffs and off-shoring of IBM jobs here in
the United States and secondly their products and services will be boycotted
for supporting a company that continues to eliminate American jobs.
-Anonymous-
Alliance reply: Not to be mean or critical; but explain how this will help grow
the Alliance members and organize IBMers to numbers that can reach the amount
required to call for an NLRB election? Boycotts might work if they are directed
at companies for making and selling products that are dangerous or harmful to
consumers; but a boycott does very little to ensure that IBMers will sign up
and then also sign up their co-workers to form a union and work toward a collective
bargaining agreement that IBM cannot ignore. Boycotts are not necessarily wasted
effort; but they do take energy, time, and organizing to be effective. Why not
use that energy, time and organizing effort to unionize IBM US IT workers?
Comment
03/06/12: Anon: "The next time your
manager tells you, you have to work on-site vs remote. Point them to..."
OK. So you point your manager to various articles and charts and tell him all
sorts of things. The manager finally relents and lets you telecommute. Later
that year he simply fires you during the next round of layoffs. What will you
do then? You think pointing to articles and your personal wheeling and dealing
really changes anything? All this fighting by one or two employees in isolation
does NOT work. You may win the battle but lose the war. The only way the employees
can win the war is when they possess the same power to hurt the employer as
the employer has to hurt them. And, that equality of power will only come when
a large number of employees unite in an organization such as Alliance@IBM.
-Anon2-
Comment
03/06/12: Will the Alliance also fight for retirees?
I was among those RA'd on 2/27. I am lucky that I can retire and at least have
that income to help with the salary reduction (assumed). My fear is that our
already lessened retirement benefits will be reduced in the future. Is that
possible? -In Atlanta-
Alliance reply: Can IBM reduce retiree benefits? Absolutely! There is a disclaimer
on all their docs saying they reserve the right to modify, change or abolish
the plan. That is what happens when you don't have a union contract. IBM retirees
need to start challenging IBM. Alliance will help when it can.
Comment
03/06/12: My blood, My Family life, My Dedication
is there in this, but now I am not part of it and I dont have any of it.
IBM
Shares Top $200 for First Time as Technology Stocks Lead
People out there enjoying with all my hard work I did. -John-
Comment
03/06/12: I know this might not be the correct
board or forum, but this is for those who care. With IBM record profits last
year a 2+ employee(me) got 3.5% variable pay. 1/10 of a percent higher than
last year. Pretty sad. But on the positive side after 2015 I'll get 7 shares
of IBM stock in 2015 if I am still there. What a joke, to treat employees like
this. Thanks for your time. -Joe-
Comment
03/06/12: The next time your manager tells you
you have to work on-site vs remote. Point them to this: Telecommuting-Creates-Happier-and-More-Productive-Employees
[...]
Creating more flexible work arrangements can reduce the
capital required to own or lease a building, and it also can save on parking
lot leases, furniture, supplies, building maintenance, security, and other
related costs. In an IBM paper, "Working Outside the Box," author
Janet Caldow writes that savings in real estate costs and CO2 emissions "far
outweigh the cost to transition an employee to mobile status."
To her point: More than 10,000 IBM employees were mobile
by 1995, and dedicated office space per employee was reduced from a ratio
of 1:1 to 4:1. That same year, more than 2 million square feet of office space
and 7,500 work spaces were eliminated. The total cost to transform 10,000
employees into mobile workers was $41.5 million. The savings? $75 million
dollars. "And that was just the beginning," she writes.
[...] -Anon-
Comment
03/06/12: Has anyone successfully gotten a job
within the 30 days after being RA'd? -Apply?-
Alliance reply: You'll find the answer to your question within this comments
section and/or the other archived comment sections. Almost all times, it is
unsuccessful. IBM does not want you to find a job in IBM within 30 days of your
RA. That's why they RA'ed you in the first place. They want you gone.
Comment
03/06/12: To -had it- "How about we
boycott those IBM customers that support the offshoring of our jobs? How about
starting a list of customers on this web site so we know who they are? -had
it-"
--------------------------
I think you have a great idea! If we don't boycott now we won't
be able to afford buying their products anyway without a job. Our offshore replacements
are making such low pay that they can't afford them either. -too_much-
Alliance reply: Not a bad idea, but not the priority
for IBMers; if they want to change things. Organize and fight back for YOUR
jobs at the company YOU work for first, instead of boycotting other companies'
products and services.
Comment
03/06/12: i am all for boycott and sick out...things
that we can do immediately and get attention. how do we organize?
-NotTomsIBM-
Comment
03/05/12: "....Can IBM HR lay off an
employee while one HR appeal is open AND
the employee is on sick leave (for surgery?) I find that very surprising. -Anonymous-"
Why do you find that surprising? I'm not trying to be sarcastic or mean,
here. You are an "AT WILL EMPLOYEE". Do you know what that means?
It means that IBM can do almost ANYTHING they want to you; including firing
you when you are ill or even in the hospital. They can fire you while you are
appealing your case with their own HR people. Why can they do that? Because
there are no labor laws that tell them that they can't. "At Will Employee"
is a phrase that identifies any worker that isn't represented by a union contract
or written employment agreement. That pretty much means that ALL IBM workers
(except for Executives that DO have contracts) are 'At Will Employees' in virtually
all 50 states in the US. Alliance has a "Simple Fact Sheet" link on
the right column of this page. Click it and read it and be informed. I am very
sorry that IBM treated you in such a despicable manner; but, I'm not surprised
at all. IBMers need to organize and stop this kind of despicable nonsense from
happening. Now! -At_Will_Employee-
Comment
03/05/12: ?? Can IBM HR lay off an emplyee
while one HR appeal is open AND the employee is on sick leave ??
Yes they can! "at will" they do what they want
-anon-
Comment
03/05/12: -Anonymous-
Comment
03/05/12: "As giant
IBM learns to run, many U.S. employees left behind"
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/news/blogpost/10808900/
-3030-
Comment
03/05/12: What timing for IBM's all time high
stock price - just one week after the latest blood letting. Sammy is praised
in the article found at the following link:
http://money.cnn.com/2012/03/05/technology/ibm_all_time_high/index.htm?iid=HP_LN
-2015 Roadmap Roadkill-
Comment
03/05/12: How about we boycott those IBM customers
that support the offshoring of our jobs?
How about starting a list of customers on this web site so we know who they
are? -had it-
Comment
03/05/12: Great interim reviews and great feedback
from the teams I worked with in 2011. My HR appeal still open as of Jan 2012.
Had applied for scheduled sick leave for surgery before I received my lay off
notice. Can IBM HR lay off an emplyee while one HR appeal is open AND the employee
is on sick leave (for surgery?) I find that very surprising. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/05/12: Ladies and Gentlemen, I have followed
this message board since 1999. At that time IBM was forcing the great Cash Balance
Plan onto ALL IBM employees. There was such an uproar from the ranks of employees
that IBM actually bended, yes bended. They did screw alot of people out of the
defined Pension, but it was noticed and a choice was given to those that met
the requirements. I left IBM on my own after 23+ yrs and have to say it was
the best move I have made in my life. To those that whine and post here I personally
ask "How Much Cheese Do You Want With Your Whine"! I am a member of
the Alliance, anyone in RTP want to really let the Government, local news etc
what's going on? Get ahold of me and join the Alliance, it's your last life
boat people and before you drown, make it to the Life Boat!
Best Regards,
P.S I forgot to add, I worked in the Software Group under the
notorius Steve Mills. I worked L2 support. In 1993 when 3 finger Lou came in,
lot's of people got let go, some I have to say were bumps on a log, but others
it was truly unjust. I am a paying member and no longer belong to IBM, so my
question to ALL of you, what's your problem besides not having enough cheese
with your whine to join! Aye Captain??? -Steve-
Comment
03/05/12: @-Love it- Last year they
gave separation pay for the duration spent in acquired organization. However,
one needed to provide the employment letter issued at the time of acquisition
and various details related to continuity of employment. May not happen before
the 3/28 last day. But, if one is rigorous in following up and diligent in providing
supporting documentation, should happen eventually. -Anonymous-
Comment
03/05/12: I am next on the chopping block. Last
day is in 30 days. Nebulous reason given about skills rebalancing. They can't
tell me though what skills I should have or don't have, just that skills need
rebalancing. Insult to ones intelligence. S&D -justanother-
Comment
03/05/12: US employees all call in sick on a
designated day as a show of solidarity? Tuesday April 24, 2012 would be a good
day. It's the day Annual Stockholders Meeting. Let's hit them where it hurts.
$$. -Lets_all_DO_something-
Comment
03/05/12: All five U.S based members of the
GNA Domino Administration team of the IBM Global Account. Jobs going oversees.
-Anonymous-
Comment
03/05/12: I was "resource reduced"
in Feb 2004. The over age 50 reductions began in the early 1990's. In 10 years,
my dept in Pok went from 65 to 12 with only 2 people 50+ y/o. About 40 of the
65 were over 50 years old, over 25 years service, and all were top technical
specialists in Large Systems Support. After retiring, I watched my Retiree Plus
1 Medical go from $330 per month in 2005 to $1233 per month in 2012. I was under
the impression that IBM contributed $7200 reduced from $7500) toward Retiree
Medical. Nope. The fine print states "up to $7200". The $250 Life
Planning Account payment was ceased for those who retired after 12/31/2003.
Then thinking IBM would contribute to Medicare Part B for us, I find that IBM
ceased that for those who retired after 12/31/1996. So IBM is the cheapest,
most unethical company a person could devote 30 years of their life to. I was
all for a union in the late 1990s and stood outside with the CWA banners and
the airplane fly overs but I found that IBMer's were too cheap to pay union
dues and they stuck their heads in the sand. Well, I dare say, most of them
are now gone from IBM. Hey, IBM stock is at an all time high!!! Thanks Armonk.
-jsb2b-
Comment
03/05/12: So lied to by IBM. I was with Novus.
Told that our Novus time would count in the seperation plan. But now find out
that it counts only for the first year at IBM. Lost two years of separation
pay. -Love it-
Alliance reply: This is a lesson many employees outsourced to IBM have learned.
Never rely on any verbal "agreement" by IBM. Always ask for it writing.
If IBM refuses you know they are lying.
Comment
03/05/12: Ok, so we all see what is going on
and what is coming. So ACT. CWA, lay out steps to organize, build push around
upcoming Annual mtg for press. PRESSURE politicos on keeping jobs at home or
penalizing offshore through tax code to neutralize benefit. CWA, provide link
to politicos to help alliance community in that effort. Don't expect IBM to
change out of guilt or sense of obligation. They will only change when bottom
line incents it, when cost of shame through political conversation, and exposing
clients to the increased risk for their assets has an impact. Only then will
the obscene amounts of cash held by IBM be reinvested in US jobs and building
a brand instead of lazily drifting into the 'commodity' model in a misguided
attempt to compete with the likes of Tata. When the inevitable security breaches
occure, where will clients turn for assurance of high value delivery? Not IBM
if they continue to insist on being a 'commodity provider' where low cost, not
quality, reigns. -LessBitchinMoreAction-
Alliance reply: Many of the things you suggest have been done a number of times
over the years.
We have done "take action" on offshoring and job loss that enabled
employees to simply click and send an email letter to congress. And we will
do this again. Stockholders meetings have been a bust the past few years. Why?
Because so many employees are unwilling to openly challenge IBM.
We have been raising the issue of tax breaks and incentives for IBM as they
offshore jobs.
We have held rallies around this issue at specific IBM sites. Can we do more?
Absolutely! But here is what needs to happen. No longer can the mass of employees
let the few do these actions in public.
We need a mass movement of employees, out in the open and unafraid, ready and
willing to challenge IBM on offshoring and the destruction of our worklives.
Can we count you in?
Comment
03/05/12: Hello, I found out I was terminated-I
am part of IBM S&D sales. I am currently on LOA for medical reasons. My
appeal for LTD was denied by Metlife, but I have a lawyer who is working with
them and the case is not resolved yet and if necessary she will file suit. Is
there anywhere you can point me as a resource to help guide and advise? I would
not think this would be legal? But then again, the extent that IBM/corporate
america does the wrong thing to employees, never ceases to amaze me. I was a
26 year highly ranked/certified sales employee before falling chronically ill.
-Anonymous-
Comment
03/05/12: @-overpowered-, Did you join
the Alliance yet? -First-Step-
Comment
03/04/12: I got promoted to Band 8 last year.
Got a 2 year retention bonus but yet was asked to leave IBM this year because
the division is not making enough revenue IBM expects. How ironic? This is how
IBM values money, before you! -Not an IBMer-
Comment
03/04/12: I was layed off and I am having 20
days to find alernative. http://tivoli-ug.org/
IBM talks about Debuque in pulse presentation -- all of them know how Debuque
was given to IBM so many subsidies and very less salary and how much profit
IBM is making and now they are showing it in a different way.. Sucking blood
of people who work for them. When they can spend millions on conferences, yet
they cant take care of their own people!! -John-
Comment
03/04/12: To anonymous - who decides the cuts
- in several cases that I know of, each manager (or department) is asked to
rank their employees, top to bottom, and give the list to HR. Then word comes
from HR as to how many people are cut, and HR starts counting from the bottom
of the list (they may count by category or other factors in addition that the
manager is not privy to). An individual manager generally does not know how
many people they'll lose till they're told by HR, and told to start setting
up meetings. In some cases, they are told to set up meetings with everyone,
and then the day of find out which people they will tell are cut and which ones
they'll tell are not. I know of a couple of misfires where the manager assumed
they'd only lose 1 or 2, so were careful about ranking the bottom few, and then
lost well over half - including folk they had not been careful in ranking. They
ended up with a team that they'd never have chosen if they'd known the number
up front. -anon-
Alliance reply:
All the more reason to organize those still at IBM and fight for
a contract that slows the process down and protects IBMers from this kind of
treachery. Get busy fighting for your jobs or get busy losing them.
Comment
03/04/12: GBS - 20% of my dept RA'ed last week.
When's the next one? I figure they'll continue to chip away until my organization
is entirely offshored - first level management included. So, bring on the next
ones - let's get it over with. -Anonymous-
Alliance
reply:
We recommend organizing. Get busy fighting for your jobs or get
busy losing them.
Comment
03/04/12: USA survivors of this latest wave
of layoffs, take a look around you. 3 out of 4 of you will be gone by 2015.
The roadmap for roadkill. Save yourself and your family. Think. Where should
your loyalty be? -Joe Punchclock-
Alliance
reply:
We recommend organizing. Get busy fighting for your jobs or get
busy losing them.
Comment
03/04/12: RA'd 'exempt' coworker given 6/29
exit date then denied 1.5 days earned vacation days benefit for June as month-end
date = 6/30 so June = 'not a full month worked' (6/29= a SATURDAY) - legal?
-anonymous-
Alliance
reply:
It is perfectly legal for IBM to do this. For IBMers still employed, there is
only one thing you can do about it: get organized and fight for a union contract.
IBM can break its own rules, legally, and there is nothing you can do about
that. You are an "At Will Employee".
IBM can treat you terribly, upon your RA and there is very little that you can
do at that point. US IBMers that are still employed, need to LEARN from the
RA experience. ORGANIZE. Get busy fighting for your jobs or get busy losing
them.
Comment
03/04/12: I am an IBM contractor working for
Manpower. Manpower is clearly an IBM overseer outfit. They are just paying IT
slaves like myself for IBM. After the latest RA those IBMers than remain in
my group are treating me differently and it is not better. One remarked that
I don't have to worry about the RA since I am a contractor and have a job. Like
I'm lucky to not be an IBM employee? Mind you I have little if any benefits
compared to an IBMer. I don't get severance and probably don't even get unemployment
if I get released from my contract. I'm being looked down upon now since I am
still around and IBMers are RAed. I'm not trying to take work away from anyone.
I'm just trying to scrape by myself. I'm would like to leave since IBM work
environment is becoming totally toxic. Please IBMers and Manpower contractors
for IBM lets unite and get a union here. It has to make a positive difference!
-overpowered-
Comment
03/04/12: any thoughts on the fact that end-dates
are assigned which deny the accrued vacation benefit for that last month?
-anonymous-
Alliance
reply:
Yes, one thought. Not much you can do about it now. It is perfectly legal fro
IBM to do this. For IBMers still employed, there is only one thing you can do
about it: get organized and fight for a union contract. IBM can break its own
rules, legally, and there is nothing you can do about that. You are an "At
Will Employee". IBM can treat you terribly,
upon your RA and there is very little that you can do at that point. US IBMers
that are still employed, need to LEARN from the RA experience. ORGANIZE. Get
busy fighting for your jobs or get busy losing them.
Comment
03/04/12: Consider this: IBM's chairman was
paid $170M to retire in January, including full medical benefits for life. IBM
has off-shored over 100,000 jobs from the U.S. under his tenure- lost American
jobs. The cost to pay his retirement off is the same as approximately 1300 employee's
salaries and expenses. He left on Dec. 31, 2011. On January 2, 2012, IBM communicated
a layoff to reduce expenses. The number of people in that layoff is - you guessed
it - around 1300 U.S. employees. Coincidence? I think not. Corporate execs are
siphoning money away from their employees to get rich. The average IBM employee
who retires this year, after 30 or more years of working, will GROSS $33,000
a year, with one year of benefits assistance (they will pay only $600 a month
out of their 33,000 for the first year) After that, no benefits. That GROSS
pay, puts most of the retirees BELOW THE POVERTY LINE! How can this kind of
'employee fleecing' be made illegal? -ournightmare-
Alliance
reply:
It can't be made "illegal", but it can be countered and made useless
to IBM management by one simple step: Organize IBMers and get a written collectively
bargained contract that prevents management from making themselves wealthy on
the backs of IBM employees. Executives, right on up to the CEO have contracts
that stipulate what the company MUST pay them on their retirement. All of the
CEO's benefits, bonuses, stock options, salary, and perks are also negotiated
for them in a written contract. It's perfectly legal. And so will a contract
between IBM and the IBM employees also be perfectly legal.....IF IBMers decide
to organize and stand up and fight back. Get busy fighting for your jobs, or
get busy losing them.
Comment
03/04/12: "cloud employment" will
soon be the next new strategy that IBM will use to pay employees on a "per
project" basis. No benefits, no holidays, no vacations, 24 hours work day,
7 days a week, no severance, no unemployment insurance (after the "project"
is done). Take your measly cash on the barrelhead and scram IT animal! Come
back soon for more. We like getting rich off of you. Welcome to the smarter
planet. -anonymous-
Comment
03/04/12: Once gasoline prices go up to and
maybe past $4.50 a gallon and it starts to hurt IBM profits then more RAs will
happen. Maybe more RA numbers than IBM initially is planning. Yes, IBM will
stop at nothing to make it's lofty EPS promises to Wall St. -anonymous-
Comment
03/04/12:
@GLAD ITS OVER--- Read you severance
package, YES if you fail to perform your job duties during your 30 days of notice,
you can have your severance package pulled. They have you by the balls or some
other bodily part. -Be-More-Aware-UNIONIZE-
Comment
03/04/12:
Everything that I thought America
stood for is being destroyed by these thugs. They sleep very well at night with
their pillows stuffed with dollars though. The cow-towing and crowing of the
third world leeches that are now getting all the products that were creating
in truly first world countries in the belief that "we are just as good
as you" is bull, and frustrates me more than anything. Sending the products
to corrupt Asian countries that have human rights to be ashamed of, all in the
name of profit sickens me to the core. And a company that is supposed to epitomize
America and everything it stood for is no longer the world class company I joined.
It has gone down the drain; and to hear the gutless execs spout "we are
a global company" as some kind of justification mantra sickens me. The
only comments they get when they make any sort of announcement these days are
sycophantic messages on the IBM internal boards from third world lackeys that
think it might help them. As is openly joked about these days "India -
145,000 people doing the work of 10". Name me one good thing that has come
out of India - come on, quickly! :-) ....it cannot be done. I am not even American
and I know that I am on my hands and knees for those in the past that built
up IBM so that it could expand and I strived to be just as good and better as
my American friends colleagues to uphold IBM in my country. Nowadays it is just
arrogant little lackeys that are ungrateful and have no sense of history. All
they do is go to the highest bidder. Pathetic to see. -Bored
of it-
Comment
03/03/12: Let's
break it down really easy for everyone out there who reads this. I work in Services
and we make money for IBM. The problem is that we do not make enough to hit
our unreachable annual GP targets. So, what happens? RAs. Folks, this is part
of the plan! We play this game of false choices where it seems we are failing
and we have to do something and RAs are the only choice. It's such crap. The
vast majority of our revenue comes from long-term contracts yet our GP goal
is raised to a unachievable level so our division is supposedly forced to RA
people to put up something of a respectable GP number. In my area, the first
to go are the "legacy" employees and PBC 2s and 3s. After a few RAs,
IBM forces people into Manpower with almost no notice. Then on Feb 27, the cuts
go deeper (8% of IBM employees in my office). While people are waiting to finish
up, it's found out that we are about to hire more Manpower employees. Look I
grew up being taught to hate unions and I understand the argument for and against,
but without someone fighting for you against this evil, you're screwed. IBM
doesn't give a damn about your mortgage, your health, your kids, your standard
of living. There are no checks and balances. What are you going to do about
it? You have three options: union, quit IBM or bend over. I've spent the week
talking up the union with co-workers. -Just
the facts man-
Comment
03/03/12: Off
shoring is a strategy for IBM. I don't understand how a union would make any
difference. They specifically do not want workers here, so where's the negotiating
power? -Not convinced-
Alliance reply: There are union contracts that have limited offshoring and
some that have even negotiated bringing jobs back to the USA. Beyond a union
contract this is a political issue. IBM should not get tax breaks or incentives
as they shift work out of the country. We need to attack this on many fronts.
US Jobs and the economy are at stake.
Comment
03/03/12: If
you are over 50 you better support the Alliance and get a Union going to protect
your job. HR has you marked as a costly employee. You basically have a target
on your back. They don't want to be shelling out high medical costs for you.
Be smart and join the Alliance.
-Over50andGone-
Comment
03/03/12: Is
there anyway of determining how many IBMers were RAed in NY state? Maybe Sen.
Ball is on to something if IBM finally has fallen below the agreed upon amount
of employees it needs to employ in NY state to get their economic incentive
money and tax breaks. No wonder IBM doesn't break out USA employment numbers.
-anonymous-
Alliance reply: When IBM has jobs cuts the number is always just below
the number that would trigger a WARN notification. They are very unethical.
They are hiding the cuts even from the government. There needs to be a full
investigation in every state and at a federal level.
Comment 03/03/12:
I was RA'd 2 years ago by IBM. I was in a "high
demand" job (IT Security) with multiple degrees and certifications and
24.5 years of experience with excellent (2) PBCs. It did not matter. They laid
me off and all I was left with is my 401K account which was pretty wiped out
due to the stock market crash. IBM hired me back a year later as a contractor
with no benefits. Then I found a full time job with benefits but I am making
$30K less than my old salary. My advice to anyone being RA'd is GRAB any contract
job you can right away. Don't only look for full time work because the market
is really bad. We have a union where I work now but management is still chopping
away at our salaries, pension /401K plans, and other benefits. We have to fight
and get Congress to support jobs in the U.S. Too many jobs are being sent overseas.
-Anonymous-
Comment 03/03/12:
Left IBM over 4 years ago, and the USA, now living in
New Zealand. Disgusting to read some of the comments and news and the also the
cloud or liquid workforce. Do you get it now, folks, that there will be only
two classes in USA ...the elite and low worker bees. -Left
The USA now in NZ-
Comment 03/03/12:
Just the facts man- you're right on the money. I took
2 hrs off last week to take my 5 yr old son to see his doctor and was screamed
at by management for not being available during that time even after sending
that evil manager an email indicating that I will be unavailable for a couple
of hours.. I cannot sleep at night anymore with all the stress, I'm expected
to work 7 days a week and be available at nights also... I'm actively looking
for work but very difficult to find something, cannot quit, need the money,
hopefully I will land something soon since my health is being affected seriously,
co-workers are becoming ridiculously nasty, backstabbing morons that only wants
to out do each other for the coveted 2+ > ratings... Simply put, I hate IBM
with a passion, can't wait to get out, I understand why many who got RA'ed said
they felt relieved. I wish I could trade place with one of the folks who got
RA'd -Richard the Lion Heart-
Comment 03/03/12:
to -rather not say-....i think all you need
to do is look at louthridge's earnings remarks this past quarter. i think he
basically says layoffs will continue. i believe ibm has billions of dollars
earmarked for cost take-out..and i bet you can guess what workfore that is going
to be unleasd on. this has been in the works for at least a decade and they
are fully commited to their 2015 roadmap..just go look at w3 right now and the
story on the roadmap and emerging(growth) markets. they are committing numbers
and targets to wall street, wall street loves the roadmap and you better believe..they
will hit those targets.....expect the numbers of employees r/a'd the next go
arounds to be more than this time.... - i've been out and
am lovin' it-
Comment 03/02/12:
The Alliance wants to protect your anonymity. If IBM
ever found out of the names of Alliance members who are not Alliance public
organizers then they could figure out which IBM business units and sites have
the most Alliance membership which would give IBM management heads up to take
action to try to further thwart an organizing attempt and movement. Of course
the Alliance would not want to see this happen so that is a main reason non-public
Alliance members are kept anonymous. Think of it this way: IBM doesn't disclose
how many USA employees it has (supposedly for competitive reasons) so then why
should the Alliance disclose it's membership? -AnonUnionSupporter-
Comment
03/02/12: -HoboKEN-,
IBM has no way of knowing who is and who is not an Alliance member.
The Alliance would not know if a member got RA'd unless the member wanted to
tell them.
My management has known me to be an Alliance member since 1999. I survived many
RA's and am still here. -Biker1mike/workforlife-
Comment
03/02/12:
SO Delivery, Server Systems Operations -- IGA Application Hosting Services &
IGA eMail and Collaboration Services:
IGA Change Controls - The one & only change exception process manager was
cut
Download Hosting Environment - All IBM regulars cut
Application Hosting Environment - Out of Profile, Custom Bid & Specialized
Solutions - All IBM regulars cut
Application Hosting Environment - Web Middleware - Three first line managers
cut
Application Hosting Environment - Voice & Unified Messaging - All IBM regulars
cut
Application Hosting Environment - Architecture - Four architects cut
Real Time Collaboration (e-Meetings & Sametime) - All IBM regulars except
chief architect cut
All above were told their jobs were going to India.
IBM has outdone themselves in slicing their own wrists this time. All of the
senior staff, technical leads, team leads, and focal points are all gone. -Anonymous-
Comment 03/02/12:
-RochesterGuy- I am on the Cash Balance Pension
Account and I have to be 55, sorry, I wondered the same thing. -anon-
Comment 03/02/12:
-RochesterGuy- Seriously? 30 years and you don't
know what your entitled to? Everyone in your position needs to call Fidelity
right now and find out what they are entitled to, what age they have to be or
years of service etc. Not to single you out -RochesterGuy- because
believe me your not alone. People. Find out what awaits you in your Golden Years
from this company you work so hard and blindly for. As each person's situation
may differ due to age, years of service, plan your under etc., there are no
pat answers without you calling and verifying your own situation. You will probably
be shocked to find out how little you will be getting. And from a 2007 retiree,
trust me, You are NOT going to see any raises from what you are told other than
your costs for the medical. Also ask them about covering any children you may
have that are still on your insurance after you retire. That answer will surprise
you also. FHA covering just you, no spouse and no kids MAY last 5 years at best
for the least expensive coverage. Know what ducks you have in a row. Or don't
have as the case may be. You may be trying to hang on under the radar for something
that is not worth staying for. Want to improve your retirement picture? That
can be part of a union contract you know. IBM sure as hell isn't going to improve
it for you. Also anyone who is getting your " VESTED" benefit and
not the actual pension, you have no option to leave any of it for your spouse.
When you die, its gone. Your spouse gets not another thin dime. Pretty Shitty
deal but unless you organize and force changes with contracts it is not going
to improve. Yes folks there really is no bright side to any of this shit. IBM
wins and we lose! Yet again. -Exodus2007-
Comment 03/02/12:
I am not an IBM employee but wanted to forward on a good
article from the WRAL Techwire that talks about IBM's "brilliant"
strategy when it comes to layoffs.-
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/opinion/blogpost/10802909/
-Greg-
Comment
03/02/12: Is
it possible to get a union vote now? -anon-
Alliance reply: If only it was that easy.
There is a myth that we could have called for a vote in 2000. We had big mass
meetings in places like Poughkeepsie that brought out hundreds of workers. The
problem was that even in Poughkeepsie we did not meet the federal labor law
requirement of 30% sign ups. By the way the sign up cards have a shelf life
of 6 months. There is a federal labor vote process we and all union organizing
campaigns must follow.
The Alliance can not make up its own rules.
Does that mean we don't keep working towards that goal? Of course not. But there
is much that can be done now.
Please see these links: http://www.endicottalliance.org/organizingforthelonghaul.htm
http://www.endicottalliance.org/allianceibmsimplefactsheet.htm
Joining the Alliance in any of our 3 membership catagories signifies support
for the union.
Comment 03/02/12:
Sorry RochesterGuy. Screwed over. FHA only if you are
55 with at least 15 years; But with 30 years and being 52...no dice. Check with
the ESC though. Another reason for a Union. Union benefits.
-Same Boat-
Comment 03/02/12:
Found answer to my own question. Since I was not yet
40 years old on 7/1/1999, I need to be 55 to get my FHA, regardless of years
of service. I'm sure I read somewhere that retirement benefits MUST be based
on years of service...looking. -RochesterGuy-
Comment 03/02/12:
Overheard a senior manager say, "we lost some 1000
people this go around and the next ones this year are going to be at least a
factor of 4 or more." Isn't that delightful. Can anyone out there say they've
heard anything similar? IBM has stood for many things but now it means:
It's
Become
Miserable -rather not say-
Comment
03/02/12: Is
the Future Health Account available at age 55, or 30 years service? That's a
consideration for me as I have 30 years service but am only 52.
-RochesterGuy-
Comment 03/02/12:
Was informed that I was being let go on Monday. Was given
a Blue folder containing the PACKAGE by my manager. Felt bad for my manager
she was almost in tears. She was just the messenger. Worked in Poughkeepsie
NY IBM plant. Was a Technician with almost 23 years working for IBM. 4 people
out of 23 let go from my dept. Hear that there will be more resoure actions
taking place next QTR. At least 50 percent of my area is made up of Contractors
(Manpower). Was told by Management that it was good to have Contractors. It
would save jobs! because if work slowed down they would be let go first. What
Bullshi they spread. I think they really believe it. Well looks like I get 6
months of medical coverage and up to 26 weeks of seperation pay. And 30 days
to look for another job in IBM. In the past they always closed out the job search
during that period. What B.S. The company is only interested in profits. Respect
for employees does not exist there. -Anonymous-
Aliiance Reply: Sorry for your job loss. You are correct, "The company
is only interested in profits. Respect for employees does not exist there."
The IBMers AND the contractors must do what is in THEIR interest. They must
respect themselves and take care of themselves. IBMers and contractors MUST
organize. It IS the right solution.
Comment 03/02/12:
Ok End date is 3/28/2012. Do we have to work till that
date to get the severance package? What happens if I get a job prior to that
date? -GLAD ITS OVER!-
Comment 03/02/12:
Received notification of my RA on Monday, last day is
March 28. After years of watching my friends and top-performing colleagues getting
the boot, while work was sent overseas to under-qualified replacements with
the remaining US team members having to pick up the slack and keep the projects/systems
from breaking, I am more relieved than anything that it's my time to go. Seeking
out a job change can be scary, especially given the tough economic climate these
last few years, but honestly this is a transition I should have made long ago.
IBM is not the same company I joined and the work environment has become unbearable.
I look forward to bigger and better things in my professional career.
-Relieved-
Comment 03/01/12:
The ISC let go the last of the non-contractors in 3x/5x
and the only IBMers left are in 7x and those jobs likely offshored .in in 3
years. They will take the hit in lost sales from unhappy customers but figure
cost differential will more than make up the entire difference. Their thought
is that by that time the customer base will be more willing to accept substandard
support that comes with .in, "after all that is where everyone goes for
support." Stupid? Yep, Short sighted? Yep, but I see no way around it.
-TimeLineTillGone-
Comment 03/01/12:
9 out of 13000 doesn't sound like people got the message.
Are the 9 voting members or are they RA'ed people. -beenthere-
Comment 03/01/12:
It's good to see the membership increase with the Alliance.
How many times does the axe have to fall before people get it? I ignored the
warning signs and got wacked. Don't be stupid. Join the Alliance now and do
something positive to save your job. It's too late for me.
-GoneFromBigBlow-
Comment 03/01/12:
How many alliance members where ra'd?
-HoboKEN-
Comment 03/01/12:
Any RAs in the GDFs? -anonymous-
Comment 03/01/12:
It is very disheartening to see IBM cut their US workforce
like this. I am still with the company but I know my time is limited. The division
I work in SC has had major layoffs this past year and there are rumors that
we will be shut down within the next 6 months. What really bothers me is the
manner in which we have been treated during this process. Only a handful of
the employees who were let go received a severance package. And the management
has been disrespectful to say the least. Many in the management team have been
told that they are safe and will be placed in other areas of the company. They
continue to get raises and bonuses while we get nothing and are told that we
should just be thankful to still have a job. One of the team leads actually
complained in front her entire group because her bonus this year was less than
what she got the prior year. And she did this the day after half the people
in our office were laid off. -Disappoited-
Comment 03/01/12:
The best thing you can do for yourself is be prepared.
Join LinkedIn and take a seminar on how to work the tool for a new job. Get
your resume prepped and hunt for a job while you have a job. I'm an 11 year
IBMer and I love my job but I'm not crazy enough to think they wouldn't fire
me in a heart beat to meet 2015 EPS goals. I do have two Minneapolis VPs that
I work with both with headcount for Bus Analytics and infrastructure architecture
email me if you're in Rochester or Mpls -bigNDfan-
Comment 03/01/12:
Just learned 4 execs band D or above made a significant
effort to stop my managment team from RA'ing me. FOUR!!!! It's amazing how ppl
outside of the organization I work with understand the value I provide to the
client and my management team is just blind. Oh well, this just makes me know
this has little to do with my performance. I hope Ginny somehow gets these threads
on this forum because she is losing a lot of good staff and experience; and
keeping people who know how to run scared and have no clue as to how to evaluate
employee performance. -Anonymous-
Comment 03/01/12:
I cannot believe after reading most of these comments
her that most are in shock here for being surplussed. Did you think since 1993
you were better than those let go before you? How many of you who were hired
after 1993 thought you were better than those who were the first wave? All current
IBMers need to wake up and move out on your own.. -Retired-
Comment 03/01/12:
-Membership Numbers- I think a lof of folks
got RA's and came here for info (good). But since they were RA'd they don't
think of joining (bad). If you come to this site, then join the Alliance and
support it like it's trying to support you. I'm RA'd (retired) and I am a member.
-Neal Watkins-
Comment 03/01/12:
In the wake of this bloodbath, have the membership numbers
gone up for the Alliance? I know many rely on this site for the best information
and many are reading, are they acting too? -hoping-
Alliance reply: 9 new members since Monday. The web visits on Monday were
13,000.
Comment 03/01/12:
company is eating itself from the inside. i see it now
from greenville. clients are leaving, cancelling contracts, service is terrible.
good for those who got it now, will just get worse later -greenvillesc-
Comment 03/01/12:
STG-MD Division was letting go quite a lot of people.
An engineer who had spend over 30 years of his youthful years in IBM was forced
out. Poor fellow was slapped with two PBC 3 in a role by his 1st line without
warning except informing him he would be on the chop board. What a humiliation
way to exit? NO RESPECT! -Call it quit-
Comment 03/01/12:
To add to "Outta here" comment. This is happening
in IBM Hong Kong too. IBM hired me/us through middle recruiter -- namely "Verossity"
and "Infoteck" as contractors and placed us to some Hong Kong local
clients. The IBM --"project managers" do not take part in any of the
works. There were clauses that specifically state IBM relationship with me would
terminate once my contract is cut or completed. IBM did not get involve in any
work. They are like any cheaper agencies who suck blood out of the contractors
same as a parasite. That's how IBM makes money these days, completely unprofessional
with IT -- losing much blood--
Comment 03/01/12:
Just had an All-Hands Call with VP of GBS Operations
(George Metz) A team over 400 people attended the conference call to basically
tell us that GBS operations will be flushed down the toilet. Expect HUGE cuts
sometime in 2012. Major overhaul of several areas of the business:
Business Management Operations, RDMs, Contract Management and Project Management,
Internal Controls, Testing and Compliance. Expect whole functions to be gone
i.e. fired sometime in 2012. -Done4it-
Comment 03/01/12:
Felt wasted 4 years of prime time at IBM. Left IBM two
and half years back, and am glad that I did. Company with no morals. One rower,
eighteen managers. -Anonymos-
Comment 03/01/12:
I was RA'd 5 years ago and am now a Manpower employee.
Manpower, through IBM, offers NO vacation time to employees; 1 pay raise every
3 years regardless of performance; and only 6 holidays per year. Plus are paid
30-40% less than an IBM worker doing the same job. Insurance is so poor you
may as well not have any. I understand that "cloud employment" will
soon be the next new strategy that IBM will use to pay employees on a "per
project" basis and will probably be rolled out in Europe. IBM's on a roll
to attain their 2015 goal for shareholders regardless of the cost to employees
(the 99%)!! -Underemployed-
Comment 03/01/12:
For all those that have just been RA'd, be sure to ask
your managers about bonus/PBC/variable pay that is due 03-15-12. This is for
the work year 2011, you are all eligible, except anyone rated a 3.
-Concerned-
Comment 03/01/12:
Things are only getting worse at IBM there was an e-mail
sent out yesterday about PBC bonuses. Now it doesn`t even matter if you get
a 1 or not, if your group didn`t make a profit then you`re not entitled to any
bonus. -whatever-
Alliance reply:
All of your above comment would change if IBMers in the USA had a contract.
Organize now. Join Alliance@IBM. Don't wait until the next "layoff"
or firing to come around. You can DO this.
Comment 03/01/12:
What can we do to have a media presence at the next IBM
annual meeting of stockholders? April 24, 2012 at the Charleston Area Convention
Center, North Charleston, South Carolina. I would go if something were organized.
I am a member of the alliance and still employed, for now...until the next RA.
-proUNION-
Comment 03/01/12:
IBM has opened several Admin Hubs in Raleigh NC, Austin
TX, England, Toronto and Malaysia - all staffed by Manpower Temps. This is the
face of the new IBM Admin Support Groups. IBM Savings = no benefits, less pay,
no pension and less vacation. This is degrading U.S. salaries.
-Outta here-
Comment 03/01/12:
After spending many years at IBM thinking it was a great
place to be, I was RA'd 5 years ago. I found another job that actually appreciates
what I can do and has helped me further my career. What I find disturbing is
this lack of respect for the American IT worker that IBM has. It has not gone
unnoticed in the universities either. -Former IBMer and
will stay that way-
Alliance reply: It's not just IBM that lacks respect for US IT workers. It's
most of the IT companies that are based or began in the US. They continue to
perpetrate the LIE that "the US IT workers do not have the skills to compete
in the Global Market". The truth is otherwise, obviously. IT companies,
especially IBM, are exploiting workers in other countries because their labor
costs are a tenth of what a US IT worker costs. On top of that, the US IT workers
are forced to train them, before the US IT worker is fired.
Comment 03/01/12:
I heard BAO was hit very hard, something like 50% Can
someone confirm? -Can'tFocus-
Comment 03/01/12:
Got the ISC Axe. My work is going to India. Which is
kind of funny since about 1/3 of my day is answering stupid questions from India
and fixing the messes they make. Who is in worse shape, the people leaving or
ones left behind to hold things together? -Gone Fishin-
Alliance reply: Sorry for your job loss. Who is in worse shape? The people that
were fired because they didn't have a union contract. The people left behind
have a chance to change things and organize their co-workers and work to prevent
the abuse and uncertainty of being an "At Will Employee".
Comment 03/01/12:
Does this kind of unethical practice happen in Europe
too or unfortunately is this part of a North-American employee's daily-life?
-Future IBMer-
Alliance reply: "This kind of practice"
happens anywhere in IBM that the workers are not represented by a union contract
or employment agreement. Some European IBM locations DO have unions and works
councils to negotiate labor issues. Yes, there are some non-USA IBM locations
that don't have a union; however, the ones that do, fair much better than the
USA does.
Check out the IBM Global
Union Alliance page for a list of the unions and works councils world wide:
http://endicottalliance.org/iwiswebsite/iwis-ibmgua-links.htm
Comment 03/01/12:
I survived this go around. We lost a significant % of
our department. Manager was nice enough to say the work doesn't go away and
that the"survivors" must absorb the work. We work ~60 hours a week
now. I was "offered" all of the work of 1 teammate. Knowing that I
am in a unique situation without the ability to leave, I will get dumped on.
If I were to leave on my own, I would be liable for more than double what severance
would be. I am stuck for another year before I can look outside. Once that term
is up, my resume is ready to go. I am using the time to build the additional
skill sets that are valuable outside IBM. -Survivor-
Comment 03/01/12:
I left IBM over a year ago and am very happy with my
new job. I hadn't realized how good my skills were until I left - I have GREAT
skills in my new job. IBM has forced out so many people that only the very best
are left and the competition is fierce. It is much, much better to be hunting
for a job while you have a job. It it a factor at your job interview. Waiting
until you are RA'ed is simply too late for most of us. It is very scary to walk
away but if you need to work another 10 or 20 years there simply isn't any future
in staying with IBM. Good luck to all of you. -Jeff-
Comment 02/29/12:
KROC-AM 1340 in Rochester MN reported that the IBM employee
population in Rochester is now under 3,000, down from a peak of 8,100. Also
KROC reported that IBM-Roch is mothballing two buildings.
-Frank-
Comment 02/29/12:
We lost 2 SSR's in our territory. One large system SSR
and one midrange SSR. B/O 49R -Gifted One-
Comment 02/29/12:
STG. Band 8. Got notice yesterday. I couldn't even think
anything out of it because I have been so tired working day and night to meet
the delivery date ... -Tired-
Comment 02/29/12:
I don't understand. The economy is supposedly on the
mend. Jobs numbers are increasing and new claims for unemployment continue to
fall. Why then is IBM continuing with their layoffs. I'm in Software Group in
RTP/NC and go hit this week. Very discouraging. -econWondefulReally?-
Alliance Reply: I'm sorry for your job loss. IBM has
been planning the reduction of US IBM employees for over a decade. They began
this job cut/offshore policy in 1999. It has nothing to do with "The economy
is on the mend. Jobs numbers are increasing and new claims for unemployment
continue to fall."
Comment 02/29/12:
How many received a 3 rating and still got severance?
Or didn't get severance? -Wondering-
Comment 02/29/12:
I'm aware of at least 20 loosing jobs in Montreal but
probably over 100. I'm one of those... -BeenliedTo-
Comment 02/29/12:
I was laid off today. Let me work the entire day and
then laid me off right before going home. -greenvillesc
-
Comment 02/29/12:
Given my walking papers today. -greenvillescmanager-
Comment 02/29/12:
The Feb 29 Leap Year Day tradition is alive - the girl
(Ginni) takes the initiative and invites her targets to the dance where they
get whacked. -Done unto me in 2005-
Comment 02/29/12:
Click link to read entire article: media-advisory-in-the-wake-of-ibm-layoffs-ball-urges-legislation-to-end-tax-incentives-for-companies-that-offshore-jobs
MEDIA ADVISORY: IN THE WAKE OF IBM LAYOFFS, BALL URGES LEGISLATION
TO END TAX INCENTIVES FOR COMPANIES THAT OFFSHORE JOBS
Posted on February 29, 2012 by Greg Ball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brittany Serra, (845) 200-9716
IN THE WAKE OF IBM LAYOFFS, BALL URGES LEGISLATION TO END
TAX INCENTIVES FOR COMPANIES THAT OFFSHORE JOBS
Who: Senator Ball
Former IBM Employees
Local Business Leaders
What: Senator Ball will discuss his legislation that would
end tax
incentives for companies that offshore jobs, and he will also renew
calls for the state to get a guarantee from IBM that they will keep
jobs in New York and be transparent in their reporting practices.
Where: Senator Ball's District Office
1441 Route 22 Suite 205
Brewster, NY 10509
When: 3/1/2012, 4p.m.
Media that can't make it to the District Office can join Senator Ball via
conference call: (605) 475-4000 and enter the code 591038.
For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany
Serra (845) 200-9716.-Anonymous-
Comment 02/29/12:
"Wonder how many "life is better after
IBM" might be IBM HR bloggers paid by IBM to say this. Like they are doing
a little shove to those that are left to just leave IBM."
Speaking for myself only: I left IBM voluntarily, and I'm definitely in the
"life is better now" crowd. I'm learning more relevant skills; I'm
paid as well; I work hard, but the people I work for appreciate it in both words
and dollars. I realize that people stay @ IBM for different reasons. To everyone
who stays voluntarily: It's not going to get better without a union. It may
not get better WITH a union, but it's the only chance you have of staying there
and not enduring this emotional torture every year, year after year. If you're
not going to be a dues-paying member to the Alliance, then don't wait around
for "the package". The package may never come. The package may go
away. You're enduring incredible stress and emotional damage to wait around
to be whacked, and for what? Why do that to yourself? I wouldn't treat a skunk
the way IBM treats its employees. If you're not going to try to make IBM better,
then for your own sake, get the heck out. -irRational-
Comment 02/29/12:
I know that there is a nice life outside of IBM -- I
left it once before and then rehired with IBM when the other employer went out
of business. But that doesn't make me any less sad to see my friends and former
co-workers shoved out the door. I spoke with someone today who has other interests
and pretty good job options. She said even with her other options, being shown
the door like that "feels crappy". In my dept (within STG division)
we lost 3 out of 19. I looked at the 16 of us remaining and I thought -- do
I feel confident that any of them would make a better target than me when the
next RA comes, which we've heard is May. The answer is No. I am sending in my
$60 Alliance associate membership because "do nothing" is no longer
an option for me. This is a blood bath. Every day I hear of another friend who
was cut. Something about this year feels significantly worse, though I can't
quite put my finger on what it is. -Saddened by Lies and
Mistreatment-
Comment 02/29/12:
16 years of nothing but 1 and 2+, latest manager gives
me a 3 after assigning me a project which he knew would fail. He made sure to
micromanage it to the point where my hands were tied, then blamed me for not
making goals. This sort of thing takes planning, folks.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/29/12:
Expected to see the 3rd consecutive year of RA's - does
anyone know if the UK will be hit, it's all been very quiet over here and most
dont think it will happen but im not sure as massive push to move as much as
possible offshore plus UK losing some massive contracts this yr
-alldownhill in the uk-
Comment 02/29/12:
Wonder how many "life is better after IBM"
might be IBM HR bloggers paid by IBM to say this. Like they are doing a little
shove to those that are left to just leave IBM. The job market still stinks
for ZT workers in the USA based on what IBM and other IT companies are doing
to marginalize them with work offshoring. Most IT workers get less pay in their
next job. -anonymous-
Alliance Reply: It also subliminally says "don't fight back, don't unionize;
just leave IBM" too. IBMers have had plenty of warning that layoffs will
come to pass, if the workers do nothing and don't fight back. It's sort of an
innoculation against courage to stand up and organize. Your theory is an interesting
point. Thanks for your comment.
Comment 02/29/12:
2/27 STG Cross Platform Software ~50 folks most over
40 -NotMyDadsIBM-
Comment 02/29/12:
-cometomyemotionalrescue-: "Waiting for the
next round of RAs is emotional torture ... but not leaving until they kick me
out. Why would one give up 6 months severance."
Two reasons to leave:
1. Easier to find a job while you are still employed.
2. You may not get a severance if you are rated low (PBC 3) and given the boot.
But agree it is an emotional torture and the 2 things that can rescue us from
this torture is a union and a contract. -Iwish-
Comment 02/29/12:
Is it true the IBM's plan will close the Pok Lab, after
the IBM lab is opened in China?? -jef-
Comment 02/29/12:
Best of luck. Left that madness on my own terms 10 years
ago and never looked back. Found out what work/life balance REALLY means once
I got to the outside. Every measurable aspect of life improved. immediately.
-TenYearsOut-
Comment 02/29/12:
To those hit with the RA this time around: I was affected
in the 3/2009 one. I found a job the next month, started a bit later, and got
a 60% pay increase. I have not worried about being laid off in the interim.
IBM is a dysfunctional family. You have a choice to change it or leave it.
-Oatmeal-
Comment 02/29/12:
The local Rochester, MN community no longer places IBM
in high regard. the overwhelming attitude toward IBM in this community is at
an all time low. Many would like to see it just go so the land could be used
for prosperous commercial industry. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/29/12:
Layoff-survivor-stress-guilt-forbes-woman-well-being-employees
I am feeling really bad about the blood bath
this week...not on the list but I'm running really low on optimism for the future...
-nothinglastsforever-
Comment 02/29/12:
Add five US Integrated Supply Chain (ISC0 Global Logistics
IBM employees to the list of layoffs on 2/27/12 . Looks like about 10% of US
GL. -anon-
Comment 02/29/12:
150 GA Exec Admins laid off or 20% of our US workforce.
-SeeYa-
Comment 02/29/12:
thanks to all who suggested ways to live after RA
-training my india replacement-
Comment 02/29/12:
Waiting for the next round of RAs is emotional torture.
The amount of stress this causes and the amount of concentration it takes away
from actually working is insane. IBM seriously needs an internal overhaul. This
is not the way...but not leaving until they kick me out. Why would one give
up 6 months severance. -cometomyemotionalrescue-
Alliance reply: The internal overhaul needed is a union and a contract for employees..
Comment 02/29/12:
Sorry to see news about more RA's but also wanted to
let you know there is a life after IBM. I was RA'd after 13 yrs of service and
am working for a competitor now in a better position, better corporate culture,
and better pay! It was nice not having all the stress after working like crazy
and training my worldwide replacement. Enjoy the severence, sign up for unemployment
benefits, and use that retraining program assistance money!
-RA'd 2 ys ago-
Comment 02/29/12:
Left IBM last year. Life is so much more enjoyable and
less stressful now. To those RA'ed hang on, there is opportunity out there.
-EnjoyingLifeAgain-
Comment 02/29/12:
Cut from GTS Services Risk & Compliance in Canada
after 10+ years and 2/2+ PBC's - position is being moved over to Argentina;
A little upset, but looking forward for the opportunities elsewhere. I do feel
bad for those that are remaining, as needed skills are going missing and managers
aren't allowed to backfill positions where help is needed (I guess that's where
the move to GR comes in). What is also sad is that IBM ends up paying penalties
(and huge ones) for accounts due to GR's not being able to do the work, and
accounts aren't happy and are leaving. For those of us waiting for time to tick
down - good luck! - MondoinCanada-
Comment 02/29/12:
Got the RA. I personally am looking forward to not working
for IBM anymore. 24 years in. -PutAForkInMe-
Comment 02/29/12:
People, please understand that North Carolina is an "At
Will" employment state. This means IBM, or any other NC company, does not
need a reason to let anyone go from any job. Simple! All this talk of age discrimination,
getting a lawyer to fight it, etc is totally futile. Go ahead, take your savings
and give it to a lawyer to review your issue. He/she will tell you they will
not take you on, due to the "At Will" status. How do I know? Been
there done that! As for age discrimination in layoffs, IBM has that covered
cold. Have any of you looked at your dept? Chances are a good percentage of
your area are "over 40" years of aged. If a large percentage of people
RA's are over 40, it is because most employees are over 40. This is not a company
of youngsters, like Red Hat or Google. Also, a number of folks have written
that they were shocked they were RA'd. IBM's goal is as few US employees as
possible. I think many IBMers are still not living in the real world.
-Concerned-
Comment 02/29/12:
I was an employee with OAOT (Canada), a partnership with
IBM US. In the late 90s, jobs were outsourced to us in Toronto and Moncton on
the 10-year contract. Then in 2004-06, 80% jobs were moved off-shore to India.
I got laid-off at that time. Shortly after I got rehired in 2007, they annonced
they would move the remaining of the jobs to IBM Brazil, so I got laid off again.
How in the world someone can survive in the IT industry. I think we should all
become plumbers and brick layers. - jobless in Toronto-
Comment 02/29/12:
I served a 14 year sentence in two different stints with
IBM in sales before I just could not take it anymore and found another job.
Please, please, please know that just about anyplace on earth is better than
working for IBM. You will be better off not working there.
-TwoToursOfMisery-
Comment 02/29/12:
I left IBM on my own terms a year ago and I couldn't
be happier. The cycles of RAs where pressure enough but when my manager took
a 1 year assignment in India to train resources to "supplement" our
workstaff it was clear days were numbered. Trust me there are good jobs available
and its easier to get a job when you have one. One irony is that I got this
from an IBM recruiter 2 days ago.
"I found your profile on LI. I am a recruiter for IBM's Systems and
Technology Group. We are looking to hire 40-50 new IBMer's in RTP and I wanted
to tap into your network to see if you know anyone! These opportunities are
for a small, $35-40M division within IBM with 120 employees and we are exploding
in growth. We would like to target the Raleigh area first since this offers
a huge opportunity for growth as we transition from a hardware group to a services
firm. We prefer computer science and engineer professionals who are customer
focused, but can dig into the details as needed. I would love to talk to you
about your background to see if we have an opportunity that matches your career
goals. If you are interested in speaking with me or if you know anyone, please
forward my information along. Here is a link to a sample opening:" https://jobs3.netmedia1.com/cp/job_summary.jsp?job_id=STG-0456433
-Rich-
Comment 02/29/12:
It still amazes me that people think that IBM (exec's)
don't know what they are doing. They know their customers and future customers
needs and are building the staff to meet them. To believe they don't realize
the impact is naive. Wake up , this is a strategy. -beenthere-
Comment 02/29/12:
Anyone who can, during the '30 days' should request the
12 week Family Medical Leave. That basically shifts out later the ending of
COBRA for another three months. From what I understand they have to give you
the 12 weeks if you have a reltive that it's plausitive needs your care... even
if requested during that '30 day' period. -Tricky Dick-
Comment 02/29/12:
Hi Puzzled SSR's I believe are part of the SO group.
-Whatever-
Comment 02/29/12:
Please see main page for list of job cuts by business unit. If
you notice any missing, please email RA pack to ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
-Alliance-
Comment 02/29/12:
My God. What happened to the beloved IBM I used to know?
I retired in 1991 when they began that Orwellian garbage about rating you relative
to your co-workers, but also how well you cooperate with your co-workers. Insane.
Cynical. I could see it was the beginning of the end. -Walt
C. Snedeker-
Alliance reply: Thanks for commenting. Yes, IBM has been firing its workforce
by the bushel, since 1994. Every year after that fateful first "layoff",
IBMers in the US have had to fear every fiscal period with trepidation. It's
now at a fever pitch with no end in sight; unless you consider a USA with no
more IBM employees working there, "an end". That 'beloved' IBM you
once knew, has become "bedeviled" with greed and hubris; and they
are doing nothing but destroying the lives of IBMers throughout the USA. Very
sad indeed. We've been telling US IBMers for almost 13 years, that they need
to stand up and fight back. Your comment implies that you might have felt the
same way; if you were still an employee. We welcome your comments, Walt.
Comment 02/29/12:
I was resourced monday from CHQ. Clear case of retaliation. Does
anyone know of a lawyer that would handle this in or near Raleigh, NC?
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/29/12:
54 of 58 cuts are age 40 and above in my husband's dept. I will
be contacting EEOC just so they know. -Wife of Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
Now more good workers laid off because more work is being offshored.
I guess the lessons weren't truly learned as they keep getting told that the
offshore and GDF folks aren't able to keep their systems functional. Cheaper
labor will cost them by losing accounts, but they don't care. Those people that
you layoff to offshore more jobs are people that are part of your customer base...less
people working means a smaller customer base. Is that so hard for these large
companies to understand? They are ruining their image and their reputations
with these low skilled offshore and GDF workers that find themselves moving
from a restaurant job to managing a huge enterprise overnight. Not meaning to
hurt these employees feelings, just pointing out that you can have some low
skilled people on each account if you must, but to keep getting rid of the guys
that have twenty and thirty years of experience to save money is stupid and
will cost them dearly in the long run as these clients take their IT back in
house and tell all the CIO's that they know about the nightmare they went through
with IBM. -Fail-Fail-Fail-
Comment 02/28/12:
There were 6 people RA'd in Accounting yesterday. 4 in Raleigh
and 2 in NY. Given til 3/28. Also, 10 people in World Wide Accounting in both
Raleigh and NY, including myself, are currently training our Argentinian replacements.
Our work goes to them 4/16. They have a plan to movr the rest of World Wide
Accounting to Argentina by 1Q of 2013. They keep telling us they will find us
other roles within the company but I haven't seen any openings. Just thankful
I am around long enough to get my Bonus. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
SWG Services and Business Operations RA'ed 39 people (20 in Admin,
16 Sales Specialists, 2 in Sales Support, and 1 Executive IT Specialist)
-Phred-
Comment 02/28/12:
re Cobra & TAA for new RAs - make multiple copies of your
last pay stub before severance pay, your cobra election forms, any thing re
med benefits after separation. Also, anything that shows your work being transitioned
to offshore resources - foreign team lists/contacts, emails, outsource resource
& training plans, etc. I still can't find my Cobra election form with the
dates required. You have to prove coverage before and after Cobra to qualify
for HCTC - invoices, proof of payment, cobra election form with start/end dates.
More re Cobra, you may qualify for State (3 month emergency payments until Federal
processed) and Federal HCTC Healthcare Coverage Tax Credit for trade affected
(TAA/TRA) or dislocated workers (WIA) which was just increased in Jan. 2012
from 65% to 72.5% of Cobra rate - that kicks in after 6 month IBM subsidy. There
may be a 7.25% rebate of your Cobra premiums paid during the 6 month IBM subsidy
period in 2011. You might also find state commercial healthcare options cheaper
than IBM Cobra and also eligible for 72.5% subsidy, depending on your state.
See link below for Trade Act eligibility - try to use existing petition - 2011
80,000 plus for more flexible benefits. There are now petitions covering remote
workers outside of states, or join with 3+ other workers to start a new petition
in your state. Also, there can be several months delay in government posting
newer approved petitions so keep checking back to see if you fit definition
of newer petitions. http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/.
Re HCTC: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=187948,00.html.
Must file both federal and state applications - so make extra copies of your
Cobra forms/documents. Regarding TAA, your local unemployment office "OneStop"
can help but if they don't have experienced TAA coordinator, you may have to
take the lead or escalate to the state coordinator. Warning sign - if the DEW
employee does not know TAA application process, criteria for training benefits,
etc. BIG CONGRATS TO IBMers who got RAd over age 50, months before planned retirement
and min fed retirement age - there are extra benefits for you that can enhance
your years before retirement - learn a new career, subsidize reduced wages,
or get healthcare help until your Medicare date. Just be ready to read and fill
out forms! Best wishes to all my fellow RA-ers.-Ann Ominous-
Comment 02/28/12:
US IBM internal Education Personnel took a huge hit again this
go round. Jobs were outsourced to Malaysia and India.IBM Education has been
gutted They have used US employees to train their own overseas replacements
before cutting them loose. By end of 2012 IBM US internal education will probably
be non-existent. All to save a few bucks on less labor. however it takes 3 overseas
employees to replace one qualified US worker. Where is the true labor savings.
with this last go round IBM US internal Education now suffers brain drain. -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: Apparently, education and training are not priorities for IBM
to help their employees become better at what they do. 'Brain drain' seems to
be proof that "lack of skills" is a big lie that IBM perpetuates throughout
the company; at least here in the USA. How's that for curious?
Comment 02/28/12:
Have any SSR's been given their notices in this latest RA? Can
anyone tell me what IBM group the SSR's work for? All these acronyms for the
IBM departments are very confusing. -puzzled-
Comment 02/28/12:
10 of 17 employees have been laid off from SWG team in Edmonton,
Canada. -acquired then eol'd-
Comment 02/28/12:
I had a 2+ pbc & preparing an Executive presentation when
I was RA'ed 2 years ago. Exec's went nuts, escalated my dept, but nothing happened.
After I left I was called many times to assist with IBM IT problems, since the
Global resources had no clue. Been working for an IBM competitor & the company
is great, better benefits, higher salary, less bureaucracy. Leaving IBM was
a relief. -Was Adiosed 2 yrs ago-
Comment 02/28/12:
to -LongTimeBeemer- SWG is currently cutting the 3 performers,
after they're gone, then they'll know how many more need to be cut, RA will
come next. -qtr_century-
Comment 02/28/12:
CHQ was affected as well at least 70 jobs bands 6 - 10. Hoping
for SEC and IRS fines. BA and Slovakia are now too expensive and jobs are moving
to Guad and China. -husbandwithbigmouth-
Comment 02/28/12:
IBM Layoffs 2012 - made Forbes news -
ibm-reportedly-cut-over-1000-north-american-jobs-this-week
One irritating thing about the article is they fail to indicate
there are less than 100K IBMers in the US now - less than 25% of the worldwide
workforce. -Anonymous-
Lee Conrad's reply: Whenever I talked to the media I stress the
decline in the US employee population. Some print it , some don't.
Alliance reply: There is a good reason why "they fail" to mention
the US IBM numbers: Because IBM stopped reporting what those numbers were, in
2010. IBM will not tell the press or anyone, (least of all their own employees)
how many US IBMers there are. The Press has stopped guessing. We have a running
estimate on our front page and the Press has used it in some past articles about
layoffs or IBM in general, as Lee has said, above.
Comment 02/28/12:
"Has anyone kept a record on the dates for all these RA's that
have occurred?"
I can tell you the first RA of the year seems to be the biggest. The 1st
QTR 2009 purge was a big one. -anonymous-
Alliance reply: We have never kept a specific list or record of
all the layoff dates; however, our archives and past article sections should
refer or directly state those dates. Check all of the comment archives available
from the coomments menu and/or read the "more
articles" and "news
& spotlight updates"
Comment 02/28/12:
"Having a hard time "finishing strong" for this last
30 days."
Advice: Be as unavailable as possible to your work assignment and manager:
Your already "persona non grata". Send Ginny an e-mail and thank her
for IBM treating you worse than dirt. Try to find another job in IBM if you
want. If not, stay home and enjoy a breather, check out what you might want
to do post-IBM, and then look for another job. IBM owes you nothing during the
30 days. RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL has long been a dirty phrase since little
fat, greedy as hell pudge Gerstner was in IBM. "(their) Greed consumes
me" -anonymousBeamer-
Comment 02/28/12:
Sorry to hear IBMers are losing their jobs. It looks like Ginni
is executing Sammys plan to the tee. Cut jobs to keep the stock price up. Shares
of IBM rose 45 cents to close at $197.98 Tuesday. This is how IBM raises their
stock price... by firing employees. -GotTheBootToo-
Comment 02/28/12:
GTS Maint & Tech Support East..45 people. I'm one of them.
Found it refreshing this morning to get out of bed knowing the only stress the
next 30 days will be finding a new job! -Ciao Big Blue-
Alliance reply: Please send RA pack to ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
Comment 02/28/12:
Sorry for your job loss. There is better job out there than IBM
has to offer. There is LIFE after IBM. You might be eligible for Trade Adjustment
Assistance (TAA) benefits if you are in one of the certified groups. http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taa_search_form.cfm
example TAA Decision 75087
INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY DELIVERY DIVISION STORAGE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION IN SERVER
SYSTEMS OPERATION -cannedbyblue-
Comment 02/28/12:
33 years with the co....got the layoff notice. Had a 2 PBC. Is it just us old
folks that are getting the axe? I really wish this site would capture age stats
to see if IBM is in violation -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
To anonymous able to retire. There is no reason to defer the start
of your pension that I can think of. You are early enough in the year that the
tax ramifications of the severance payment should not be of major concern. The
difference in monthly payment from deferring until the severance runs out is
also insignificant. Using the 12 months of company paid insurance would be a
good idea as you will have to pay something on any of the various retiree options
(unless you go 100% FHA). -Anonymous_Retiree-
Comment 02/28/12:
To SWG RA Victim 18% of headcount per quarter for the next 3 quarters?
Is that correct ? Doesn't sound like a modest amount to me. -longtimebeemer-
Comment 02/28/12:
A theme that bears repeating is that there is life outside of
IBM. A much happier life. While that statement may seem of little consolation
to those who are getting RA'd, take it as hope for better things to come. MY
BP and stress dropped immediately when I left. I did find a job at a smaller
company and the positive energy is amazing. I can say that getting away from
IBM is better than you think right now. Stay positive. IBM does a great job
at destroying self-esteem. Get over it and find yourself again.
-ex-ibm'er-
Comment 02/28/12:
"DOES THIS SOUND RIGHT???? -Anonymous-"
It's a valid approach, but whether you take the advice depends on your
personal situation. The advantage of deferring your pension (if you can) is
that you will have a lower income tax bill for 2012 - and a slightly higher
monthly pension amount when you start collecting. On the other hand, if you
can live on your monthly pension and don't need to 'live on' your severance
pay the next several months, then you might choose to start the pension immediately
and use the severance to pay off debt, invest, or splurge. As for medical insurance,
it depends on whether youâ??re under the old IBM retiree plan or the IBM
FHA plan, and whether or not you're eligible for Medicare. You need to compare
the costs of the 12-month COBRA or transitional plan to whatever retiree options
apply to you. The old retiree medical plans probably cost much less than the
COBRA plans. But the FHA medical plans are much more expensive than the COBRA
plans (but you can use your FHA account offset the cost of the FHA plans). You
should be receiving hard copy documentation on the plans that apply to you.
Also, you can call the Employee Service Center (ESC) for further information,
and to get a Retirement adviser assigned to you. -Been there-
Comment 02/28/12:
-Adios Big Blue- When I retired in 12/2009, I got the cobra medical
for 18 months (without the government enhancement). It was expensive, but still
cheaper than what they're charging for retiree medical. I think you may qualify
for that govt enhancement. Check to find out. -Dave-
Comment 02/28/12:
to -LongTimeBeemer-, the SWG cuts will start in April
and will be on a product/project basis. Once they cut, the project or product
maintenance/development will go offshore, as has been the plan for some time.
They are starting this process to avoid the WARN process in SWG. It also allows
management to restrict RA packages to just a particular area, so no one will
actually see how many in SWG are cut. Rumor says the cuts in SWG will be modest,
about 18% of headcount per quarter for the next 3 quarters. -SWG
RA Victim-
Comment 02/28/12:
I'm hearing of cuts in IBM Canada, not sure how many are affected...
-Canuck-
Comment 02/28/12:
I am a 2+ admin. Got the call Monday morning to be effective March
28.
60 years old, cancer patient, 12 year employee so 24 weeks severance. 20% of
our team got the boot. Did get my insurance paid through the 24 weeks. Then
as a cancer patient COBRA payments will be prohibitive. I have $2300 in my Health
Care Spending account ;) No way I can even use half of that amount. Physical
activity and personal vitality rebates, gone. Profit-sharing bonus, gone. Centennial
bonus (vest in 5 year), gone. What little salary increase there may have been,
gone. I telecommute and live in a tiny town about 250 miles from my home office.
This area has the highest unemployment rate in the state, and one of the top
ten in the nation. "Hello - welcome to WalMart. Basket or Buggy".
I'm happy to be leaving though; don't get me wrong. Employees are too expendable.
-Adios Big Blue-
Comment 02/28/12:
To anonymous who is eligible to retire. I don't know why you wouldn't
atart collecting your pension immediately unless you are going to collect unemployment.
If that is the case, I don't think you would want to start collecting pension
until unemployment is close to running out. I am in the same position as you
and I hope they give me a package so I can get out of here with a severance.
I am in SWG. Has anyone heard of layoffs in SWG yet ? -LongTimeBeemer-
Comment 02/28/12:
To all of you still employed by IBM, if you are reading this site's
comments, then you probably realize the ones leaving are really the lucky ones.
I was RA'ed almost two years ago. The Friday prior to when I was RA'ed, I had
informed my manager that I would be away from my home office some of the following
Monday because my husband was having an outpatient heart procedure. He seemed
concerned, and indicated that he wanted to talk with me on Monday, and that
I should give him a time he could reach me. My false assumption was that he
really was concerned and wanted to check on my husband's health. But it turns
out my memory of the call from my manager became me standing in the recovery
room at the hospital, listening to him read IBM's official RA statement. So
much for respect for the individual. Those of you left at IBM should give serious
consideration to joining Alliance@IBM, together before your fate becomes mine.
On the positive side for myself, I am MUCH happier and healthier now (blood
pressure actually runs low now instead of high), and my husband is also doing
well! -NoRespect-
Comment 02/28/12:
Was RA'ed 10 years ago in June. Looks like not much has changed.
Few of the team that I worked with at IGS remains. Sad... we did a lot of good
work back then. -OuttaLex-
Comment 02/28/12:
GBS also being hit. I'm in GBS Industrial and rec'd notice yesterday.
Looks like 25 people hit in our group alone. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
This world we now live in...maybe this could help out a few to
cope...
http://downtoearthwithwings.com/?p=1386
-MH-
Comment 02/28/12:
GBS also being hit. I'm in GBS Industrial and rec'd notice yesterday.
Looks like 25 people hit in our group alone. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
Does anyone know if a job cut challenge actually worked? -wondering?-
Comment 02/28/12:
I was with IBM for 24 years. I was hit last February. I guess
it is good they stopped doing it at Christmas. One year. Divorce, Cancer, Last
parent died, and then to top it off, a layoff. Respect for the bottom line.
Humans don't run this company anymore. I am better now. -Blaine-
Comment 02/28/12:
Is $120/yr too much to ask, in the names of our fallen "colleagues"
to try to change the practices that we all are forced to work under? The media
can't help, the politicians can't help and are starting to ask for donations
themselves! Is it not worth $120/yr to try to give the Alliance and yourselves
a fighting chance to reverse the tables here???? Please think about it!!
-SeeTheLight-
Comment 02/28/12:
I have been RA'd. I also am eligible to retire. Have just been
advised to take the "pkg" then about 45 days before the money runs
out, contact IBM Pension and apply for my pension benefits. Also to take adv.
of the 12 mo. of medical insurance in the RA Pkg. and then about 11 months into
that apply for the Retirement Health Care account to continue my insurance.
DOES THIS SOUND RIGHT???? -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
GTS Delivery, Band 7. Got the call yesterday. Received standard
2 wks/year severance. Last day is 3/28. Having a hard time "finishing strong"
for this last 30 days. -anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
"This website is like a free employee satisfaction survey for
the upper management. -no_security-"
Upper management doesn't care and does all it can to isolate itself from the
real people. When Gerstner came in I had 9 levels between myself and the CEO.
When he left I had 5. When Sam left I had 11 levels of management. Do you think
this increase was accidental. Of course not. The more buffers the less he has
to care about what happens to those on the bottom. The way to have your concerns
represented is to unionize. -Anonymous_Retiree-
Comment 02/28/12:
Sorry to hear about the RA's. Two years ago I received a 3 rating
a year after doubling my workload. My customers and my manager were happy with
my performance but I still got a three. I realized at that time my values were
not in line with IBMs. It took me 2.5 months of looking for a job and I ended
up with a 30% increase in pay and much more responsibility. I am very happy
now. I learned a ton from IBM that I use in my current job. If you are on the
fast track you will most likely be OK if you have some VP looking after you.
If not then you are just a number and IBM will use you to make money for their
shareholders. It is simple as that. It is a well oiled machine. The irony is
that most companies want to be like IBM. So if you are reading this and you
know you are not on the fast track and you are not happy with your job at IBM.
Start looking! You will be surprised by what you find. Good luck. -LD-
Comment 02/28/12:
From the Resource Action Employee Information Package that I received
on 2/27:
The number of 'employees selected' for the Resource Action in the 'AMS Commercial
Delivery' category that I apparently fall under totals to 116. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
How can people feel like they got the golden ticket out of hell
and were relieved etc? If things were that terrible for them why didn't they
join and organise with the union or simply get another job elsewhere and quit?
Folks that are left. IBM does not own you. Its your life. Its your career. You
choose to spend it at IBM or another employer. You're not slaves that have to
be sold or under contracts that you have to get traded. It stuns me whenever
people say they were shocked that it happened to them. Why would it shock you?
This website has repeatedly posted RA's where 1 performers with golden circle
and service awards were RA'd the same year they got the 1 and the award. Nothing
should shock you anymore. What will shock you is when you one day have a contract
and don't have to worry about RA's anymore. When you will know long before what
your severance would be and how an RA will be administered. The shock will be
how much better your life will be. How much less stress. Good luck to all who
were hit. My condolences to those left who will be expected to work even harder
to make up the difference. Don't worry though, IBM won't really appreciate your
extra efforts. -Exodus2007-
Comment 02/28/12:
Hi all, I reported on Friday that my appeal for overturning my
PBC 3 was overturned and has been amended to a 2. I received the call from my
BPM yesterday at noon. After 13 years, I am eligible for 1 wks pay per six months
of service. Frankly, I'm not surprised that I was RA'd and while it's still
a shock, I'm a little relieved. Interestingly though, BPM informed me that my
last day with company is in September. Anyone else given an extended date of
release? Any idea what that's about? -Davinia-
Comment 02/28/12:
Plaxio: when I was RA'd back in one of the first big waves in
March '07 I had 30-60 days if I recall to exercise my options or they were lost.
not sure if things have changed since then. to all those hit: as others have
said, there are some good opportunities out there. after 9 years with IBM I
started working every contact I had and found myself in another company with
better opportunities, compensation and a senior mgmt that understands the tie
between employee morale and performance. -RAdin07-
Comment 02/28/12:
If you are older than 40 years and feel your RA is based on discrimination,
you may want to contact a lawyer. There are some law firms involved in IBM RA
situations. I know McTeague Higbee has worked on previous RA situations. (207)
725-5581. Good Luck to all of those with an RA--and to those who are still in
IBM. (I too was RA a few years ago.) -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
I was a second generation IBMer who was fortunate to have been
RA'd last year and I tell you it was a load off of my shoulders and the best
thing that ever happened in my career. It dissapointments me to see IBM is still
doing business in this manner. My message to those who are apart of this recent
action....Your better days are ahead of you and you will shortly see there is
A LOT more out there than IBM trust me!! -haventlookedback-
Comment 02/28/12:
I was also layed off after 32 yrs. My father retired from IBM
in 1990. The package he received was amazing not like what we get now! But the
good thing I am already feeling the stress level going down. I have friends
that have gotten the ax over the years and they a so happy not being a IBMer.
Life goes on just have to figure out what I am going to do. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
After 15 years of service, this is my second go round with this
layoff madness. My first experience was back in 2009 but managed to hang on.
With the exception of a 3 rating in 2011, nothing but 1's and 2+'s my entire
career. Add 2 Golden Circles, 7 100% Clubs, 1 Leadership Award and 2010 Sales
Eminence with a trip, it continues to baffle me how IBM can continue down the
path of wanting to cut top talent. It's all about "what have you done for
me today" mentality. You can use the economy and recession as an excuse
to layoff people, but in the end it only makes the company look better and more
profitable. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
Hi I can help you with Short term disability. You can get RAed
on STD at IBM. Your last day will be either your first day back from STD or
the day after your first day back. You will continue to accrue vacation while
on STD, so IBM can't pull the " work till 3/29 and only get vacation for
Jan and Feb" If you would like you can also search for an IBM job while
on STD after being notified of the RA. Can't comment on your chances but they
can't stop you from looking or working your contacts if you would like to stay.
-anon-
Comment 02/28/12:
@Former GBS Slave, there have been more than one instance of people
reporting on GBS RA's but so far the Alliance does not seem to have the RA package
info. -Short on Info-
Comment 02/28/12:
after 12 years 1 and 2 performance got a 3 because I did account
shutdowns and they were not profitable (managers excuse). I say fair well to
an unethical and general sickening environment -Former IBM-
Comment 02/28/12:
Finally got mine yesterday, after 15 years. On the one hand, it's
better to be employed then unemployed in this economy. On the other hand, working
conditions had finally become so miserable over the last year or so that having
to take my chances on the outside doesn't look like the worst possible outcome.
Adios! -Done-
Comment 02/28/12:
Odd that nobody is reporting RA's in AIS. I've heard from a few
people that they got the call. Anyone knows (or has experience) with getting
cut during leave of absence or while on short-term disability. Do you get severance
if they cut you? Is there a way they can kick you out without a package? -NeedToKnow-
Comment 02/28/12:
So many people tried to access this site yesterday that it couldn't
handle the workload. If all these same people had joined the union, we wouldn't
have had this RA problem in the first place. I lost my job. If you still have
yours, join the union NOW! If you don't, you'll get to go through all this again
every 3 months until you are gone too. -anon-
Comment 02/28/12:
Got the golden ticket out of hell yesterday which was the second
best day of my IBM career. Kind of like a boat the two best days when you buy
and when you sell. Sad to say the financial results are more important than
customers. I am sad for the remaining people. -I Am Out-
Comment 02/28/12:
For those affected: Just know that there is hope after something
like this happens. It happened to me 4 years ago and within 30 days of my leaving,
my blood pressure dropped by 30 points. I am now happier than ever because I
do not have the worry of losing a job that went nowhere. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
Here is the number of people let go at the Dallas Command Center.
3 Duty Managers, 7 Mainframe Operators, 1 Operations Analyst. This wipes out
the command center. -See ya-
Comment 02/28/12:
AMS IBM Global Acct - 139 people affected on 2/27. Looks like
the IBM acct is going to 100% Global Resources in a big hurry. -Former
GBS Slave-
Comment 02/28/12:
-Anonymous- Comment
02/28/12: HP, Dell,
Sun, and others must be overjoyed by all the RA's. There are thousands of former
IBMers in IT operations who are doing everything possible to prevent future
IBM sales. IBM is getting the reputation of screwing up projects. It's a house
of cards waiting to fall. Eventually management will run out of levers to pull
to prop up the stock price and IBM will be a has been company. My sympathy to
those RAd...there is better life after Big Blue, companies are out there, just
keep looking and leave no stone unturned. To those who remain, pay attention
to the message from the Alliance and organize and help stop employee abuse
-Gone4years-
Comment 02/28/12:
Submit your comments to this post about Sam and the RA's at Reddit.
Posts at Reddit get attention based on popularity (via comments made).
ibm_employee_response_to_the_january_1st_unboxed
-anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
What happens if you have stock options and are RA'd? I'm talking
the ones I was given to retain me which expire a few years from now.
-Plaxico-
Comment 02/28/12:
Does anyone know IBM still gives severance package (2wks/year
@ ibm) for those RA'd? I think that's up to 1/2 year pay. -JP-
Alliance Reply: It depends on whether
IBM obeys its own rules. There is no law that forces IBM to give severences,
whatsoever. They may, however, give severences to long term employees; such
as 25-30 year employees.
Comment 02/28/12:
STG Systems Hardware development 48 RA'ed. 34 were age 50 or older.
Right! No age discrimation here. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
Has anyone kept a record on the dates for all these RA's that
have occurred? -curious-
Comment 02/28/12:
ISC hit me yesterday after 15 years. Unrelated I'm sure to the
fact that they had someone from India here for the last 3 weeks training.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/28/12:
"This website is like a free employee satisfaction survey for
the upper management."
NO!!!!!!!!!!! WRONG. This website is to enlighten IBMers that we can STOP
RAs and other unfair IBM practices if we organize together as one voice and
unionize! For everyone reading this board: If you are not a member what are
you waiting for? The next RA? -IBMUnionYES-
Comment 02/28/12:
Hundreds were cut to pay for CEO salery increases alone... how
can they live with themselves!!!
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/030811-ibm-palmisano-compensation.html
http://www.thejanedough.com/virginia-rometty-salary/
-IBMsGreatest Asset-
Alliance Reply: They live very well with themselves, because they don't care
about you. That's YOUR responsibility; to care about you and your co-workers.
Organize and fight back. Get busy fighting for your jobs or get busy losing
them.
Comment 02/27/12:
cuts on front page do no include GBS and all service lines. BUT they talk about
rebalancing ??? dont you want you strongest performers to work in your company?
Why were NONE ZERO ZIP of the costa rican, Brazilian or Indian doing the same
job (for only 2 yrs) as I have not RA's ??? I have 12 yrs and i am a mentor
to my peers ??? that is rebalancing.. yes but not on skills .. on pay
...-rebalancing ?? on skills or pay ?-
Comment 02/27/12:
where in the world are the politicians to protect high paying jobs in america
??? oh yea ... getting campaign contributions from IBM and there executives
.. HMMMM... -politicians not to be found-
Alliance Reply: The politicians are not the ones you should seek help and protection
from. Seek help and protection from yourself and your co-workers to build a
union and fight for a contract that protects your pay,benefits, and safety legally,
from the abuses and mismanagement of IBM's executives.
Comment 02/27/12:
Yepper - came over in 2004 from the Candle acquisition as a band
0 and got the axe today - was on the IBM Software sales team of the year for
2005 on the stage at the MGM Grand and now I sit on the sidelines watching Big
Blue tout respect for the individual, customer service, and excellence... Really???
1's and 2's for the reviews and yet here we are!!! So much for corporate love!
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
After 28 years of service I was layed off today. Zero retirement,
zero medical benefits... What a truly Inhumane company IBM has become. I just
finished training my YOUNGER replacements! I am glad that the 60 hr work weeks
are over. -Told I was doing a great job!!-
Comment 02/27/12:
Taken from IBM's own website: "Drawing on established
IBM policies, Thomas J. Watson, Jr., codifies three IBM basic beliefs: respect
for the individual, customer service, and excellence".
Way to go IBM you no longer do any of these! -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
GTS delivery about 179 --Its finally over!--
Comment 02/27/12:
After 18 years I was let go from Blue in Oct 2010. Best thing
that ever happened to me. I feel for all of you and wish you the best. My advice
is don't waste your time stressing over their crappy HR practices. The are not
worth it. -Happier Now-
Comment 02/27/12:
GBS AIS with almost 11 years at IBM. Just got the axe today. I
knew this day would eventually come, but will admit that I was not expecting
it to come today. Hoping to secure a new job soon, and pocket the severance.
Here's to dreaming that I'll be more than a faceless number at my next company.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
First thing tomorrow morning selling all my ibm stock. Will no
longer patronize this company. It is sad to hear that so many people are actually
relieved that the torture is over. This website is like a free employee satisfaction
survey for the upper management. -no_security-
Comment 02/27/12:
Those who were RA'ed should read the Alliance site's job cut survival
kit - http://www.endicottalliance.org/news/survival.htm
There's some good advice there. Good luck to you all. I am not
impacted this time, but I am not so naive to think I won't be on the next list.
I am looking for a new job immediately. This should please IBM - one less severance
to pay. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
When they start hiring H1Bs because there are no techs in the
USA then the fight is on! It appears that they are after those of us making
good monies, being on call 24/7. And working our ass off for them for at least
15 years or more . There are many VETS that can do this job with no problems
and a bit of education on the IBM products. Actually it takes around 3 years
to train someone and IBM is not even backfilling these positions. IBM does not
want to even train new people. HIRE A VET! IBM -HOBO-
Comment 02/27/12:
@Regime in Washington, This road map has been in place since 2002
and announced publicly as well. The current "regime" has only been
in place for 3 years. If you can point fingers at one party, you need to start
paying more attention to the details. -Where-does-your-news-come-from-
Comment 02/27/12:
It's Shame to work for IBM anymore !!! IBM is good and too big
to fail ??? They can spend laveshly on conferences etc.. cannot take care of
it's people. IBM products are getting sick, not scalable, not reliable they
all are bought out ones in street. Crazy IBM -Ramki-
Comment 02/27/12:
BCRS was hit hard. All delivery teams in Boulder, Gaithersburg,
& Sterling Forest recovery sites involved. Several managers RA'd too.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Many in S&D across all of north america got hit today. Even
in the new IBM Security Systems division, just days after the sales teams were
announced. One head down in a small, newly formed teams of 3-4. No managers
affected, bloody bastards. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
31+ years and got the call at 9:15 AM ET....to say I was in a
state of shock is an understatement... -given my life...-
Comment 02/27/12:
For years, I've been asking my management (who I do respect and
trust...not so much the big boys and girls above them) to give me a package.
Today, they did so. For me, it's the best thing that could have happened. I'm
tired of traveling, and the projects haven't been fun in years. They're all
troubled now. I heard my group (IBM Interactive) got a 5% hit. I have a young
colleague who is incredibly talented, and he got hit too. He's also delighted.
I'm very sorry for the IBMers that can't afford to be laid off, or who will
have trouble finding another job. My prayers and thoughts are with you. I'm
the guy that does www.ibmemployee.com.
I'll continue to keep it going. Best wishes to all...and, please, if you haven't
done so...JOIN THE ALLIANCE! -No longer alwaysontheroad4bigblue-
Comment 02/27/12:
with 2 weeks before my 13th year anniversary been told I've been
let go. Still a little numb but knew the day would come. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
GBS/AMS - 7 years all 1 & 2+ ratings. RAd today. So happy
to GTFO! Go to hell Big Blue! Lead said job off-shored, no duh, Ive only been
training your intl resource teams for years now. Cant stomach any more and happy
to go. Best of luck to all of the survivors. -anon-
Comment 02/27/12:
GTS SARM CnC got hit today. I know of 2 of us in my department
that are 2+. We both are relieved it is finally over. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
I've been covering IBM layoffs for more than 10 years and almost
no one is willing to share "the human side." They are concerned -
understandably - about losing severance cash and having trouble getting future
tech jobs at IBM and related companies,like CTG. Every time the ax falls I scramble
looking for people to talk. I'm told the newspaper should do something to tell
this story, but that is followed by them declining to talk. That said, I would
love to talk Rochester, Minn. IBMers that were axed Monday. Jeff Kiger - 507-285-7798,
jkiger@postbulletin.com -MN newspaper
columnist-
Comment 02/27/12:
It's sad...so bad...so sad. There are so many posts today of IBMers
being RAed. I have to wonder how many posting and reporting that have been RAed
are actually Alliance members or subscribers? If most of them ate not members
or subscribers tben think what could happen if they were members or subscribers
all along. Maybe this"drive by layoff" could have been lessened or
even averted with more vocal support for the Alliance cause that these unfortunate
RAed IBMers could have done -Wunderin-
Comment 02/27/12:
Who is ultimately responsible for selecting which employees are
selected, 1st or 2nd line or they decide together? I understand the actual numbers
come from HR. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
GTS BCRS Service Delivery got hit today with at least 10 people
if not more.....are already bare-boned with resources as it is. Can't afford
to lose any more people !!! -Sad IBMer-
Comment 02/27/12:
NO THANKS to the Regime in Washington. Hell, he may even apologize
to IBM! 23 years with IBM, my dept. not affected today... but KNOW it is not
if but when... It will probably come as a relieve to me when that time comes
too. I want to know how many manglers got the axe! Best wishes to all the good
people that IBM screwed today! -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
In the Federal sales transaction hub in Roch, mn. Manager said
I was not affected but others in my dept would be. i don't know how many yet.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Someone posted to reddit:ibm_layoffs_under_way_labor_union_reports
-Anon-
Comment 02/27/12:
The Hartford account...multiple layoffs today -bill-
Comment 02/27/12:
RTP STG 28 years -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
I wasn't on the RA list today but my heartfelt good wishes to
those that were. May life bring you better opportunities than what IBM has become.
It's not the same company that most of us thought it was going to be. I have
no dreams or illusion of ever retiring from this company. It will not be long
before the American corporate customers find out that IBM cannot make it happen
for them...they are not going to get the same loyalty, support and dedication
that an American worker for an American account will give to the job. Amaakasahalahba
Balidibalinaosasleki will not put his heart and soul into the work like we have
done for the accounts. I am not a racist or elitist...just stating the facts.
Customers are becoming aware of this more and more...but a time will come when
no one will re-sign...Companies will take IT support back in-house for sure.
I predict this will become the trend prior to the 2016 roadkill.
-byebyemissamericanpie-
Comment 02/27/12:
112 from a single HR unit -Not_the_old_days_anymore-
Comment 02/27/12:
Is there some way to get media coverge on this bloodbath, just
from a human perspective? Perhaps with the right coverage, people would wake
up a bit more and join forces to get these companies to stop this corporate
greed? - Axeoverourheads-
Alliance reply: There IS media coverage. But there would be more, if IBMers
decided to do something about it publicly. There is a post below by someone
who suggested the same thing.
Comment 02/27/12:
Our whole team of 1,2 and 2+ performers in Boulder was outsourced
to Poland got the news today. (5 in all). Absolutely no regard for how this
will impact service to our customers; it's all about the bottom line; I hope
IBM bites it big time. -Anon-
Comment 02/27/12:
effing bastards. i hope they go down the tubes. -sickofthiscrap-
Alliance reply: Unfortunately, because IBMers don't have a contract, the workers
like yourself, are the ones going down the tubes. When IBMers become tired of
this "broken record of RA's"; THEN and only then will "this crap"
come to an end.
Comment 02/27/12:
13 years as IT Specialist and finally got the ax. I said finally
because i have been preparing for this moment for the past 5 years. I am relief
that I can start the next chapter of my life without IBM. -Finally-
Comment 02/27/12:
50% of my department was RA'ed today. A good 15 people. But with
every RA, comes a Re-org and with that comes new challenges. -anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
My group was hit - GBS AMS. I don't know how many yet. Manager
calls and says, "You were not affected. That's all you need to know. Now,
keep quiet, and don't talk about this." Hell no, I'm not going to keep
quiet. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
They hit STG today - I just got laid off. -anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
no WARN notice?
http://www.labor.ny.gov/workforcenypartners/warn/warnportal.shtm
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
33 yrs and Pension ready - Do I still get the severence of 1/2
yr salary? -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Just got RA'ed this morning because of my PBC rating of 2 and
limited skills. I never agreed with my PBC rating in 2012 since I double-increated
my role responsibilities and substantially contributed to the success of the
project office objectives. So disappointed and disgusting. Good luck to the
rest of you (survivors and victims). -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
After 12 straight '2+' reviews and probably 8 years of RA manaer
phone calls/wondering if I was next, I finally get my severance package!
-Crazy Happy-
Comment 02/27/12:
Everybody argued against H1B visas... companies thought so too
and outsourced.. now we lost their tax too.. companies won even more.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
RA's hit STG today. 20% of my dept gone. Work won't go away, our
work will increase, and other groups work will get dumped on us. Survivor guilt,
maybe. Just not in a situation where I can leave without big penalties.
-More_work@IBM-
Comment 02/27/12:
Any RAs in the GDFs? -curious-
Comment 02/27/12:
Whew, I guess today was THE day for the RAs and I survived! Now
I can at least enjoy my GDF I worked so hard for. -relieved-
Comment 02/27/12:
-TooClose- Hope you are at least 55 years old or you'll most likely
lose retirement medical, if you have FHA. Sorry if this is bad news as well.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
30 years 2+ , 2 performer finally glad to get it and get away
from this madhouse ISC looks like 50 selected based on package 42 over 50 years
old. -happytbgone-
Comment 02/27/12:
The exact same thing that was done to TooClose was done to me
in 2008.
I was about 11 months away from 29 years. They're obviously targeting people
who have almost 29 years of service, but try to prove that. It sucks that IBM
or any company is allowed to get away with this crap and nonsense!!
-CloseButNotCloseEnough-
Alliance Reply: A union contract in place would have significantly stifled that
particular method of getting rid of employees close to retirement. IBM Executive
Management is very happy that you DON'T have a contract, so they can do with
you as they please. Sad and mean, but true.
Comment 02/27/12:
15 Years, Band 7. I was part of what we considered the skeleton
crew that remained. I am actually relieved that it is finally over.
-Relieved-
Comment 02/27/12:
I count 41 affected in Software Group East Region Sales.
-Anon-
Comment 02/27/12:
Almost 14 Years at IBM, 28 years in Disaster Recovery. Not surprised.
Its much like being ordered to get in a life boat on the Titanic.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
3.5 years, consistently high performer. Moved to Technical Sales
about a year ago from the labs, into the East IMT. Notified early afternoon.
No clue how many others are affected. Guess that explains why my manager hasn't
returned my emails in weeks. -anon-
Comment 02/27/12:
I am band 8, get the news at 2pm. Shocked but relieved because
it had to end somewhere after 6 years of service. -anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
GTS Finance here...25 people on list, 24 over 40 years old, many
in late 40s and 50s. Nice right? Afer surviving many layoffs over many years,
I got the tap this morning. He read it from a script...how sad. This is my 3rd
job that has been offshored or consolidated and I'm glad its over! I don't have
to stress anymore about 'if' and 'when' it will happen to me. Already looking
for new opportunities. There is LIFE after IBM. Best to all......
-LiferNoMore-
Comment 02/27/12:
I was resource auctioned way back in 2003. Check google news today,
NOTHING in either the business section or tech section on this massive layoff.
What a shame. Thank Goodness I didn't go back to IBM when I had the chance.
-Out of IBM for 7 years-
Comment 02/27/12:
15 years, band 8. Relieved in a way to finally get the boot! -anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
15 years...found out at 10 AM today...but for some reason I'm
not upset about it...probably relieved to an extent! -IBM No Mo-
Comment 02/27/12:
just got notified. I am so close to retire... only 10 more months
then I can bridge ... any one know any legal right I have to get retirement?
-TooClose-
Alliance reply: Sorry for you job loss. If you missed the date of your 29th
year of service, you will not be eligible to "bridge" to retirement
and will lose your FULL pension. Chances are that you WILL be able to collect
a "vested rights" pension for the 28+ years service you do have. That
amount of pension $$$$ depends on what plan you are in. Sorry for the bad news.
Comment 02/27/12:
Just got my walking papers Today. One of the last Novus guys to
go. -No Job-
Comment 02/27/12:
When I was laid off in 2009, they did it in a way so that we weren't
given any reimbursement for vacation for that month "because it hadn't
been accrued yet". Rotten bastards. -Laid Off in 2009-
Comment 02/27/12:
15+ years, band 7, dba in GBS group. Heard of 20 others in our
group. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
15 years, all 1 or 2+ in GTS and got the call first thing this
morning that I have been RA'd. Not sure whether I should be relieved after the
past 5 years of dwindling US based employees that I got the call.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Counted 178 in the packet for GTS Delivery Distributed Server
Management organization. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
media report of job cuts
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/wire/story/10784152/
-member-
Comment 02/27/12:
RA notice this morning. 15 years down the tubes. Hearing of cuts
across STG and GBS. -DoneinDFW-
Comment 02/27/12:
9+ years IBMer, also all 1 and 2+ appraisals. Because IBM shafted
the customer so badly, the customer requested early exit... so this was expected.
HOWEVER, all the SDMs on this account originally had new roles to move to, till
they went "on hold". Found out today, THOSE jobs all went to India.
So a bunch of us, in a way, have lost TWO jobs. Double-screwed. Nice work, IBM.
-AnotherLowlySDM-
Comment 02/27/12:
Just received RA at the Rochester MN site at 9:00 am....I am
in shock but also a little happy to be out of the hell of "Big Blue"
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
RA today in ISC... more jobs move to China -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Guess I am the mole today. 15 years of 1 and 2+ services.. I
knew this was coming so I am not shocked. I too am somewhat relieved that I
don't have to pretend to like BLUE. where do i send the package info?
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Just received my RA notice this morning in BT/IT CIO. About 100
people on list in my package. -MTA-
Alliance reply: To all, please send us the RA pack so we can track
the numbers at ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
When reporting job cuts only count those "Selected" for job cuts,
not the whole list. Good luck to all.
Comment 02/27/12:
ITD hit today. 10% of small group gone. Hearing of others, will
post what I hear. -Anon-
Comment 02/27/12:
16 years with ibm and now I am a low performer .. HA Good luck
with the foreigners that will replace me .. I worked in GBS .. the layoffs are
BIG across the board -Gone now-
Comment 02/27/12:
Received my RA call this morning. Been a PM for IBM for over
16 years. Knew it was only a matter of time. Sr. Management in the PM area made
it very clear 5 years ago that they were working to eliminate as many US employees
as possible and they are staying that course. -Deflated-
Comment 02/27/12:
I feel terribly for the folks that received RA notices this morning.
My manager pinged me and asked if I had a minute... I was sure it was going
to be me today. He said I was not affected. I can only say that I wish the best
of luck to those that were affected today and read this. I hope that you find
a better opportunity than what we have all been reduced to at this company.
It is very sad. I am a member, but I feel very discouraged. -ThereislifeafterIBM-
Comment 02/27/12:
Another SDM who got RA notice this morning. 11 years with IBM.
-Anonymous SDM-
Comment 02/27/12:
company-wide "resource action" today. no details.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Hit after 20++ yrs GTS SO.. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Just got the call in GTS this morning, sent the package with
stat info to the Alliance Email. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Yup - like Imentioned on 2/22, CHQ is getting hit REAL hard today.
Still more to come. How stupid is management to let go some people that have
an incredibly unique and NEEDED skill set? They cannot possibly replace them
with a GR - and if they could, it would take that person MONTHS (not 4 weeks)
to get even close to up to speed. Smooth moves on IBM's part -bite their nose
to spite their face. -From Weschester-
Comment 02/27/12:
So far I know of one person in my group to get RA notice this
morning. Div 68, HR. Also an assistant that was IBM, not ManPower. Both in NY,
Poughkeepsie and Somers. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Resource Action hitting US AIS today. Not sure of exact numbers.
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
A colleague just got RA notice this morning. IBM CHQ, BT/IT CIO
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
Global Admin lay offs today. About 10% of the population.
-Anon-
Comment 02/27/12:
M&TS Bus Ops hit today. I am safe but 4 people got the axe.
All of their work going to Brataslava. More work for me, until they can expand
that group and take all of my work as well I'm sure. Good to hear that the 4
did get the std severance pkg at least, since I had heard that may be going
away as well. -Disappointed-
Comment 02/27/12:
For those that got RA's, see my post in the Jobcut
Archives2 dated 5/12/08.
It's a list of things to do and to be aware of. -Neal Watkins-
Comment 02/27/12:
GTS notifications being done now, main reason if for work beingmoved
to GR sites ...just received the call, safe for now...but its only a matter
of time...same package as usual -survived for now-
Comment 02/27/12:
Just received my RA notice this morning, 9am on the button. No
big deal considering what has transpired the last several years. Some preparation
and hard work ahead and I will overcome this. I prepared myself for a few months
on this being that I am a long-term planner. As much as I am shocked, I am also
excited at the prospect of change. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/27/12:
The whack-a-mole hit me today. 11 year IBMer with all 1 and 2+
appraisals. The sad part is, I am relieved. Glad to be leaving the sweatshop
that is IBM. Package details forthcoming via email so the Alliance can announce.
-LowlySDM-
Comment 02/26/12:
US IBMers - are you ready for Tuesday's
slaughter? Best prepare yourselves -Anonymous-
Comment 02/26/12:
Anyone know if/when cuts will happen in GTS/SO Sales?
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/26/12:
Monday is the day for RA's in Poughkeepsie -kingjim-
Comment 02/25/12:
-Davinia- You have fought the good
fight! I for one am proud of your effort. If we had more IBMers like you then
we can fight the greedy, unethical Goliath now called IBM. -JaneBeamer-
Comment 02/25/12:
"PBC 2 still gets GDP/profit sharing" Wow.
Big deal. Thank the Lordie I'm not a 3. The GDP will be not much. I'd say less
than 1% this year. Nice way to keep up and best inflation and soon to be $5
a gallon gas. You should be proud you keep IBM competitive and maximize Virginie's
stock options. She luv's ya for it. Yeah I guess ya just saying is just suck
it up and be extra thankful you got a job in big blew! Join a union? Now how
does that make sense when IBM gives me a few bennies as my bonus only to abuse
me more and soon to RA me? I don't mind this treatment. Life is Good. Honest.
-PBCdosBeamer-
Comment 02/25/12:
re:-UduntreadMuch- You're correct about the A.D.D. observation;
however, you missed my point. If US IBMers got out in the street, and occupied
the front sidewalk of IBM's US locations, and demonstrated loudly and consistently
like the public employees' unions in Wisconsin; or the Occupy movement; or even
the Tea Party movement, then the A.D.D "News Media" might just cover
them more often and with more interest. But IBMers don't seem to have that history,
do they? Yes, Alliance has held demonstrations and pickets over the last 12
years; but they need to do more, much more. The only way that will happen is
if they get more members and bigger numbers of IBMers to join Alliance@IBM and
take it to the front offices of IBM locations around the country. Union IBMers
in countries like Chile, Argentina, Italy, France, and Japan have done a great
deal of demonstrating and picketing publicly. And they got results when they
did it. The IBMers in the USA??? Not so much. What's up with that, eh -UduntreadMuch-??
-Read Much?-
Comment 02/25/12:
WRAL Techwire and the Alliance report these RA's EVERY year.
If IBM is not in the 'news" it is because of the A.D.D. nature of the news.
FEB. 24, 2011: IBM cuts jobs in services unit. They also made similar reports
in 2010 and 2009 and before that. Not in the news? Seriously? -UduntreadMuch-
Comment 02/25/12:
Take heart. I dealt with the 15% paycut and the cut in overtime
last year, and I dealt with the 2 rating PBC and no raise last year. This year,
I oculdn't do it. I put out my resume, had a new job offer in 2 weeks with a
30% increase in pay. I had been brainwashed to think that there were no jobs
in our industry. That is changing. Cut IBM loose and let it sink without you.
-anon-
Comment 02/25/12:
PBC 2 still gets GDP/profit sharing; typically 2s have not gotten
raises in quite some time. -TireBiter-
Comment 02/25/12:
I think I have figured something out. The reason that IBM is
not in the "news" anymore when they fire a few hundred or a few thousand
people is because US IBMers are not fighting back publicly. After all, good
or bad, the Tea Party movement and the Occupy movement both got media attention
to their causes. What attention do IBMers get when they are fired by the thousands?
Very little. That's because they are not out in the street making their case.
This is something IBMers should all "THINK" about. The Alliance can't
do this without members and without people to publicly demonstrate on behalf
of IBMers USA. Just sayin'... -Read Much?-
Comment 02/25/12:
I'm seeing conflicting reports on this site regarding variable
pay / profit sharing and employees with a 2 PBC rating, so what really is it,
IBMer's who were rated as a 2 will or will not receive any variable pay...
-Anon-
Alliance Reply: And you'll continue to see "conflicting reports".
IBM management will allow different results for different people. The people
who make these comments here, on the Alliance board, are not always members
and not always accuate with their information. We try to correct the inaccuracies
as often as possible. This is why we keep telling IBMers here, that the best
way to rid themselves of IBM's confusing, corrupt and unfair PBC 'merit' system
is to organize and fight for a union contract that will S P E L L it out for
you on paper. Dump the PBC process, now. Organize. Live better, work union.
Comment 02/25/12:
CIO in Pok scheduled to have huge cuts before end of February.
managers have been meeting or weeks with hr and each other. roadkill 2015 plans
for less than 20% to be US employees, and this out of 3rd lines mouth
-good bye pok-
Comment 02/24/12:
RA's across GBS Service Lines in Aust last week for consultants
and back office/support. Not sure of numbers but given a HR Partner had sametime
status as essentially unavailable between 22-24 Feb with the noted mtg room
location being the same room where RAs took place would suggest quite a few
were executed, including me. I sure feel its a blessing in disguise! No loyalty
at IBM any more. -Happy Days-
Comment 02/24/12:
Today I celebrate my victory over Goliath. I just heard that
my PBC appeal was successful and that my PBC 3 was overturned to a PBC 2. I
still think though that I'm headed for an RA as the rumors continue to come
fast and hard. I will share that as soon I hear. -Davinia-
Comment 02/24/12:
RA's coming on Monday in ITD. -LowlySDM-
Comment 02/24/12:
ECM organization major reorg - no cuts reported (yet).
-Anonymous-
Comment 02/24/12:
Due to a high bench on the East Coast in OZ; they are doing RA's
DownUnder. As a BP Manager in Perth a bit shocked to hear; we're screaming for
resources here in WA - but there are (were) 200+ folks on the bench on the East
COast (as of Dec 2011). They have a massive "Go West" campaign to
get folks to relocate to Perth for the big Natural Resource Accounts (e.g. BHPB,
Chevron, Rio); as well as a Go Canberra/Go Brissy campaign for Public Sector
and Natural Resources in Queensland. So a bit surprised when our team (work
on 2 high profile proposals); with FIFO resources from SYD and MEL - gets the
word that 4 of our 10 FIFO resources "had the chat" with HR and the
BP manager on Wed of this week. They now have until 30/31 Mar to find a new
op; or "G'bye Mate". Unfreaking real. Turns out these folks had 3
ratings; and while on the bench - were caught in a state of shock to have the
talk and RA pulled on them. One was a 23 year B9 PM, another 4 year B9 PM, two
others were B8 Archs. Our proposal team is now suffering; as these folks need
to mentally sort out other ops in OZ (relo is a possiblity for some to Perth;
but some don't want/wish to make the relo). WA has a massive shortage of skills;
and we're hurting to staff accounts in Perth. Left hand and right hand just
aren't coordinated here in OZ. And what's a bit frightening; our attrition is
over 14%; and trending up. Just had a Town Hall with Sarah; and she seems blind
to the problem - focusing on "get those Q1 signings closed"; ignoring
(of course) questions about the recent RA's. We also had 2 DE's resign in the
past week - one to CSC, the other to BHPB. Thinking my own options here... may
be time to say "buh bye" after 12 years with Big Blue. Am GBS BP Manager
here; Natural Resources group. Any other OZ RA's noted? -GBS-Perth
-
Comment 02/23/12:
Manufacturing cuts coming soon to Burlington VT plant. Contracts
down.
We no longer make anything for IBM computers. Just game and cell phone chips.
What a waste. -LookingElsewhere-
Comment 02/23/12:
Australian media reporting IBM Germany is also set to sack 40%
of it's workforce in the next five years and replace them with temps hired using
a freelancer.com style portal.
One-job-one-desk-those-days-are-over
-Anon-
Comment 02/22/12:
"all non-exempt employees that took the 15% pay cut
are no longer allowed to work overtime, which was promised when each of us took
the 15% pay cut"
And most of you took IBM at it's word that this was a PAY REMIX! Some promise,eh?
But IBM is now well known to break promises. And those that heard Randy Mac
when he toured sites to explain why IBM had to do a 15% pay cut to stay "competitive"
and comply with FLSA and a band conversion/reduction didn't even challenge Dogbert
on it. So you still think it is a pay remix? The Alliance told you it was a
PAY CUT when it happened and it still is. And when IBM promises you it will
not do another RA will you still believe it? What further actions must IBM do
for you to not unionize? -Think2X-
Comment 02/22/12:
What were the affected groups in Australia? -anon-
Comment 02/22/12:
There are more than a handful of people being unofficially notified
in the Westchester area that they will be laid off in late Feb, effective late
March - in CHQ groups. -Tom from Westchester-
Comment 02/22/12:
Was part of the ECM group at SVL & RA'd (resource action/layoff)
in 2010 along with about 1500 other IBM'ers. Job sent to China. Was asked to
come back 12 months later in another business unit. Politely turned down the
request. Been there done it. I've been mugged (IBM) once, wont let it happen
again. -Anonymous-
Comment 02/22/12:
While this is a job-cuts board, I have to laugh at how few IBMers
understand their retirement benefits or lack thereof. On the cash-balance pension,
some folks got an enhanced annuity provision which means they can start their
distribution before age 59 1/2. The extreme passivity of US IBMers when faced
with malevolent management is inexplicable. And they don't even know what they
will get when they leave the company. Employee Services Center will answer those
questions about pensions, annuities, etc. Whether even they understand the FHA
is subject to debate! Meanwhile organizing by becoming a member of the Alliance
is a wise investment and any online subscriptions you may have probably cost
more. -Poughkeepsie Engineer-
Comment 02/22/12:
Sadly, I can identify with -anon disgusted-. That description
of a totally subjective, moving target, measurement of one's performance was
alive and well back in early 2000's up to the day I left IBM in 2008... new
job offer with a 30K+ raise in one hand and IBM's 3 rating of my performance
( first time since I'd been working there) in the other. I do wish there was
a Union in place to help the employees. Hopefully people reading this blog will
realize that there IS a unified effort against them to keep them demoralized
and feeling they can do no better than IBM because IBM rates them as poorly
performing human beings. Demoralized people fear change to their situation.
Or one day they wake up and realize they're better than this. Well, four years,
15K+ of additional raises and a promotion later, I know that I was right when
I realized I was better than all this rubbish IBM puts it's people through.
I hope you wake up also. Hopefully the notion of a union has more traction now
than it did back then. Hopefully when you wake up and realize how much more
you're worth, you can join the critical mass needed to get the IBM Union off
the ground. Best wishes to those I left behind. Stay strong, change your situation,
Unionize, you are better and worth more than this rubbish. -Happily
Out...-
Comment 02/22/12:
Hi there, just letting you know that in Australia (a growth
market) lay offs happened today. -John-
Comment 02/21/12:
I think we all come to the point when we have reached the end.
I just can't play the game anymore. I do not want to ever do a PBC again - I
am done with this discriminatory practice. Myquestion is this, what will be
the consequences when I refuse? -AtTheEnd-
Comment 02/21/12:
DIV 07, Boulder GDF Storage Services, all overtime has been
suspended for salaried DPM's, PM's and all non-exempt employees that took the
15% pay cut are no longer allowed to work overtime, which was promised when
each of us took the 15% pay cut. This does not apply to your 1st line mgmr or
the team leads. If you are unable to get your job done in eight hours, pass
it off to the vendors. Mgmt has a set weekly price with the Vendors, they pay
one price regardless if they work 30 hours or 60 hours. Needless to say they
are pushing them to work crazy hours, if they don't they get walked out and
a their replacement is brought in the very next day. It doesn't matter how dedicated
you are, if mgmt or the team leads don't like you as a vendor you don't have
a chance to service within Boulder GDF. Last week Mgmt was given a challenge,
cut all overtime regardless of how this will impact the business. Needless to
say, we have more customers/contracts pulling out of IBM then signing. Mgmt
refuses to give a release date to the regulars, but they continue to beat us
down and tell us about our horrible job performance. JOB CUTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
NEXT WEEK... -FED UP in Boulder!!!-
Comment 02/21/12:
To Call it quits: If you had a defined benefit plan at some
point in time, that is yours - they can't revoke what value you have already
earned. Even the so-called "cash balance" plan is treated like a defined
benefit plan. During your separation IBM will walk you through the options and
paperwork including giving you a precise estimate of what it is worth as of
a particular retirement date, options for lump sum payments or an annuity, etc.
In general they are very good about this process; in my case they were very
thorough and although it was complex, it went smoothly. (Pension plan payouts
are paperwork intensive and highly regulated, so this is one area where they
try not to screw up too badly.) I left in 2011 after 18 years and took my cash
balance plan with me. I chose to have it treated as a lump sum, which I then
rolled over into an IRA. And yes, there is peace of mind in not worrying about
the company being hollowed out from within. -Left_in_2011-
Comment 02/21/12:
You might find this interesting...
Trashing the Script
Protests, Democracy, and Kinship Organizations in China
by Macabe Keliher and Hsin-Chao Wu
http://www.possible-futures.org/2012/01/24/trashing-the-script/
"...Wukan is serving as an inspiring example for villagers
to utilize institutions that are ready at hand for mobilization and emancipation,
rather than relying on those imported from outside or imposed from above.
In this way, liberation of ordinary men and women from the control and subjugation
of others is happening from the ground up by drawing on whatever is necessary
and available." -ChinaInRevolt-
Comment 02/21/12:
-Call it quit to stay in sane- Which plan are you under?
If you are under the defined pension plan you just need to be 55 years old with
15 years of service to collect I believe. If you are under the 401k you take
it with you. There is no actual retirement age for it but you cannot withdraw
until age 59.5 and you must withdraw starting at 70.5. Search Blue pages for
the 800 number for pension benefits to find out for certain. Anything else is
speculation because IBM has so fragmented its workforce with petty rules everyones
situation is usually different. BTW. A contract would guarantee your job security
for the length of the contract. Live Better, Work Union. -Exodus2007-
Comment 02/21/12:
I had almost the identical experience as -anon disgusted-.
Must be the company line to gt people out the door. Unionize folks if you want
to make a difference!!!! -radin2010-
Comment 02/21/12:
@-Call it quit to stay in sane-, verify your pension
on netbenefits. -Strange-Question-for-30years-
Comment 02/21/12:
-Call it quit to stay in sane- If you
didn't have 25 years or were made a second chooser as of 1999 you do not have
a pension. You have the 401kasino only. If there was a contract you would have
a real pension Insanity ... stating the same stuff over and over and hoping
it will change... -Ich Bin Muede-
Comment 02/21/12:
In the Netherlands it is the same story. Decreased PBC ratings
and the "Grow or Go" theme is very popular in management teams. There
is a culture of ignorance and demotivation of employees started by management.
IBM became a kind of Titanic, heading for $20 EPS in 2015 but after that there
is an abbys and no way back. And I guess the captain left the ship at that time.
-120000 Victims-
Comment 02/20/12:
-anon disgusted- Hey, I resemble your story. Exact same
thing happened to me. I chose to walk away in lieu of walking their management
gang plank. I've never known anyone to take their walk (challenge)and survive
it. So, I'll take the minimalized separation package(ISAP) of 13 generous weeks,
1 year medical, retraining assistance and skip to one of several available jobs
in my field where my skills, work ethics and morals are valued. Not a problem.
Best of luck to you sir. -SlaveNoMoFoMe-
Comment 02/20/12:
Feb 28th is the day I hear that there will be a mass slaughter
of U.S. IBM'ers. New Sheriff in town - same game played. Time to join the Alliance!
-anon-
Comment 02/20/12:
After hearing of multiple employee groups getting their pay cut
by 15%, and hearing the continued drumbeat that we're going to make the"2015
plan" come hell or high water, I decided it's time to join Alliance. I
don't want to wait for my turn to take a 15% cut. I recommend that every other
reader do the same. -FedUpInOmaha-
Comment 02/20/12:
-Call it quit to stay in sane-: No,
you will not lose ALL your pension but you might lose ALL your retirement health
benefits. How do I know this? I am an Alliance member and educated myself on
the sad facts that IBM employees have to deal with (IBM will not educate you
on whatever your benefits are or might be). IBMers who have joined the Alliance
did not quit but realized they needed to stand up, think twice so to speak,
and try to fight this and other injustices IBM has been imposing on employees.
If I just read this forum and didn't join and try to do something, what good
could come of that? Why not join the Alliance to stay sane? -anonymousbeamer-
Comment 02/20/12:
Planning to quit IBM after numerous years of service. It is utterly
unhealthy to worry about being on the RA list every quarter. PBC doesn't guarantee
your job security. Does anyone out there know if I will lose all my pension
before the 30 years retirement mark? -Call it quit to stay in sane-
Comment 02/20/12:
The offshoring of the GTS Services Excellence organization to
Brno, Czech Republic has begun. Entire organization will inevitably be part
of the 2015 Roadkill. -Inevitable RA-
Comment 02/19/12:
Union is the only hope if one wants to continue to work at such
a place as IBM. For well over a decade I have worked harder and harder each
year with diminishing financial reward. Then rewards stopped altogether. In
2011, off the record, my manager told me he put me in as a 2 rating, but was
told to change it to a 3. He then had to re-write my review to match the 3 rating.
I was immediately assigned to a new manager who said he would work with me to
"bring my performance up to where it needs to be". He scheduled monthly
one-on-one meetings, but he cancelled about 9 of them and never re-scheduled.
When we did meet it was always to assign me new work which he said would go
a long way to demonstrating my commitment and improved performance. In Jan 2012
he said I had been assigned a 3 thru"team decision" and that although
I had improved my performance in the areas that had been cited as "lacking"
the previous year, my contribution was now lacking relative to my peers in my
band level. I am leaving IBM rather than waste my time challenging the rating.
The stress level has been notched up constantly over the last few years. Working
12hr days, most weekends, while on "vacation", away from family -
all in an environment where I felt more and more isolated from co-workers. I
realize now what a toxic environment I have been working in the last several
years. There have got to be some companies out there that are still decent places
to work. I hope to find one. I did not know about this Alliance website until
now. At least I now know my performance was not at issue. I was just a foolish
pawn among many that have poorly treated by IBM. -anon disgusted-
Comment 02/19/12:
Big cuts (i.e. RA) in Application Services group will be announced
this coming week. Code name is Phoenix. More US jobs and dedicated employees
will be the ax. Join the union! -KL-
Comment 02/19/12:
Update on disputing my PBC 3 rating going from a 1 to a 3 as
indicated in my earlier comments , first off IBM doesn't make it easy for an
employee to use the open door / HR route as they state, second line management
was rude and disrespectful, the guy acted like I personally attacked him, HR
was slightly more understanding, however, I had good documentation to back me
up, they retracted the 3 ranking and made it a 2, not sure if it was worth the
stress in the end because it seems as they still won for all the hard work I
did in 2011 and the stress to fight a 3 rating to end up with a meaningless
2, no raise, no bonus. "More than ever IBMer's need to come together
and get unionized". -Anon-
Comment 02/19/12:
Of course IBM can cut its way to profitability and world class
service: http://tinyurl.com/78fahle
-Neal Watkins-
Comment 02/18/12:
From the main page: Where is your work going?
The off shoring of work from IBM US to other countries continues.
Many IBM employees in the US have been calling Roadmap 2015,"Roadkill 2015"
for US workers.
Help us expose where the work is going, what kind of work, and what accounts.
We would also like info from IBM workers who saw their work off shored the past
2 years. -member-
Comment 02/18/12:
US delivery friend reports 4 teamers with consistent 2+, 2s PBC
reduced to 3s even while meeting 20% or greater overtime (unpaid) demand last
six months. Could mean 25% RA/termination. Summary of the WRALTechWire "job
cuts coming" article: SUBTRACTING RESOURCES = ADDED VALUE at IBM. Essentially,
cheating customers out of the resources that they have contracted for and are
paying for. That's value??? -Ann Ominous-
Comment 02/17/12:
It is certainly a shame that IBMers in the United States read
this board; chime in to whine, complain and look for easy ways to beat the inevitable,
but do not really grasp what this board is all about. This board shows you that
you are not alone in your suffering... Not alone in your mistreatment by management.
So why do you read it and insist on staying alone to deal with the problems
when they can only be solved as a group? Appraisals across the country were
lowered by a predetermined percentage regardless of actual performance. So how
is one person alone going to fix this unfairness? Management organizes and conspires
against you, the rank and file employee, every single day. Conference calls
daily to get the days marching orders and to talk up their pets while slamming
anyone who opposes them. How does one person alone, who isn't invited to these
calls, supposed to get a fair shake? You talk about a stacked deck, well brother,
you don't even have any cards in the game. They do not even bother to deal you
in. Its way easier to cheat someone who is unaware they are even in the game.
Want to play the game on an even level? Want at least a chance to win? Better
join the union so you too, can have a voice. Think -gadfly- is kidding
about them using large system SSR's to cover POS/High volume? He isn't. Guess
who will pick who gets cross trained? Yep, the managers pet. Guess who will
get cross trained? Anyone 'the pet' feels threatened by. Guess who will get
picked for a paycut next year? Anyone working more than half their hours on
POS/High Volume. Betcha if you ever pushed back against anything the team lead/pet
wanted, you get selected. Come next year when its your turn to take a pay cut
for the team, guess who will march in the streets and strike to support you?
The same folks who did it for last years pay cuts. No one. Unless YOU
organize them NOW and get a union vote NOW, you can expect the same lack of
solidarity, everyone else who has gotten screwed by IBM, has gotten to date.
None. Wake up. -Exodus2007-
Comment 02/15/12:
I understand that 3 RSD techs have retired or quit since the
beginning of the year in the branch. I told the manager that this is what they
can expect when they pass around 10% paycuts and pay band reductions. He told
me that I need to work our a rotation among the remaining large system SSRs
to start covering the POS/high volume calls. Y'all need to know that IBM is
going to be loosing maintenance customers, and you can say you saw it here first.
Major accounts like Wal-Mart, Cisco, and NetApp will be among those impacted.
There are literally no people left in the field to go take the service calls.
It truly is a smarter planet.... -gadfly-
Comment 02/15/12:
In relation to the situation in Germany the attached article
highlights how bleak things are looking for anyone who works for IBM particularly
in the Western countries - "IBM launches new form of day-wage labour"
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/feb2012/ibmc-f11.shtml
- I am from Australia but I am concerned for all my colleagues
including myself but it is obvious if we continue to sit back and watch this
situation eventually we will all be swallowed up. -Aussie-
Comment 02/14/12:
@owns_no_shares-- IBM is indeed growing it's price per share
by firing US - EMEA - UK workers and hiring cheap labor. It has been estimated
that IBM saves 80% per hourly wage when hiring over seas, but you also need
to consider the IBM benefits overseas are minimal as well. The yellow flags
will turn red after IBM can no longer diminish the US - EMEA - UK workforce(s)
and it(IBM) will actually have to show financial growth. Yes, it will level
off someday, but sadly, there will not be many US - EMEA - UK workers left in
the mix. Organize now before you end up like every other RA'd person
-Same-Road-Map-
Comment 02/13/12:
-No Name - Just a Number- It blows
my mind that IBMers actually think HR will be fair to them when they have a
good case. A corporation's HR department actually effectively fairly dealing
with employee ("human") issues? It is a well known myth. HR just protects
the corporation from the employees and thus backs management or does damage
control for management. It can care care less about employees and the human
elememt. They treat all rank and file humans collectively as resources, not
as beings. If you want real fairness you need union representation. Plain, simple,
period. Without it you stand nil of a chance. -IBMUnionYes
-
Comment 02/13/12:
Just an update from the down troden in the UK. In my last message
I said that I insisted that my secondline manager send through to me the process
for awarding PBC scores, as I was given my PBC two weeks before Business results
were known.... Well, I was sent them, with a note saying that the assumption
is that this matter is now closed. Secondline manager was informed that I had
already booked an appointment with HR and will be discussing the matter with
them....
Well, I must congratulate HR on having their responses well rehearsed....! They
advised me that they are aware of various issues with PBC's and that they are
looking into the matter and will advise me of any findings etc etc etc.... Sounded
ery much like they were just saying what I wanted to hear... What do you think
the odds are of someone actually doing anything about doing what's moraly right,
not just what's right for IBM's bottom line?????? - No Name - Just
a Number-
Alliance Reply: Why do you expect anything different than the answer you got
from HR? Do you believe they represent you in some way? IBM HR represents IBM's
interests, only. Not yours. If you want someone to represent your interests,
then you want a union contract.
Comment 02/12/12:
hard to find flaw in this logic. the financial engineering currently
going on has long term implications.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/02/11/how-to-tell-if-ibm-is-hiding-weakness/
-owns_no_shares-
Comment 02/12/12:
I'm sitting here already retired and unable to do much about
the RAs. I can offer some advice for those that got it or suspect they will.
See my comment in the Job Cut Archive2 dated 05/12/08. -Neal Watkins-
Comment 02/11/12:
It is an irony that with less USA IBM employees means if more
of the remaining IBMers speak up and organize you all can get closer to a union
with a 50% + 1 vote just a little easier than with a larger rank and file where
more outreach to get members and votes would be needed. So join the Alliance
now. And get to it! -UnionVox-
Comment 02/10/12:
Yesterday they had a "silent layoff" in EFK and BTV
and rumor has it that they are cutting out our overtime pay, can this be verified.
-upnorth-
Comment 02/09/12:
LongTimer, how do you know the RA bug got you? You were told
already?
I believe the big one is still to come for IGS - probably end of this month.
-Endangered Species - American IBMer-
Comment 02/08/12:
Most of my team works from home and the few that are sitting
in a DC are the sole survivors or close thereto. How would we possibly organize.
We have a large offshore team and the remaining US workers are assigned to projects
and RFS work and it seems like everyone is in their own little world. -I
joined...now what-
Alliance reply: As a new member you have been added to our member elist. All
members are bcc'd.
You will be getting emails on what you can do and regular updates for members.
Thanks for joining!
Comment 02/07/12:
For how many years has IBM (alongside other corporations) been
tearing apart the American workforce? Three years ago the current wave of RAs
started. Anyone that is still unaware and not discussing it never will. Eventually
the only US workers left will be either those who kiss the ring of each and
every executive or those who stood together and fought. Make your choice now.
I am sick of the whining without action. -Backlash-
Comment 02/07/12:
Since it is approx. mid 1st QTR 2012 and the talk of RAs are
in the air but has anybody heard of any contractor jobs being terminated or
furloughs for this QTR? -contracted-
Alliance reply: We have heard of contractors with CTG being furloughed.
Comment 02/06/12:
This year the RA bug finally got to me... Should've seen it coming.
Nothing but Gov't accounts, No Sales rep and removed from accounts I built back
up. Always you are the best technical CTP I have... I guess the New IBM will
not be technical, we'll see how that lasts... Who do I feel them most sorry
for, my customers... - LongTimer-
Comment 02/06/12:
Looks like things are not getting any better at IBM. I had 20yrs
before getting RA'ed in Canada, 2009. Glad I'm out now, found a much better
job where they reward their employees for making the numbers, not cut jobs like
IBM does, after reporting record profits. -RA'ed 2009-
Comment 02/06/12:
Its halftime IBMers. Are you going to hide under your desks and
wonder what is going to happen to you next or are you going to stand up and
be counted. Are you going to fight for what is fair and good about your jobs
or just let them be taken away without a fight? Do you want to be unemployed
in America in these terrible times? Only YOU and your coworkers can band together
to stop this madness. Management can't and won't. Congress isn't going to legislate
it. The President isn't going to issue an executive order to stop it. Everyone
else has already done their jobs. The laws are in place to allow you to organize.
The leadership in the CWA is in place to assist you. Only you can stop it. Are
you going to act or just not bother to take the field yet again? Every time
you do nothing you tell management and the executives in particular that you
agree with what they are doing to you. Its like thanking the whip handler for
every lash you take. Aren't you tired of the continual beatings? How's that
lower appraisal feel? Stings like an undeserved whipping doesn't it. How's no
pay raise with the cost of everything rising feel. Another whip crack. How's
no bonus feel? How's the pay cuts feel those that got them. How's the higher
insurance costs. How's the no cell phone reimbursement or internet reimbursement
feel. How does it feel those that didn't get a pay cut looking those that did
in the eye? How's it feel knowing chances are excellent you will be next. How
can you lie to yourselves and say you have no reason to organize. You really
have no reason not to. Things cannot get much worse. -Exodus2007-
Comment 02/06/12:
workplace rights? NOT!
http://news.yahoo.com/10-shattered-myths-workplace-rights-154531786.html
-anon-
Comment 02/06/12:
It's not what you know but who you know. Family members and friends
are rewarded with jobs and money. Once inside the company, family and friends
invite in and protect the relatives and friends, not the strangers.
-anonymous-
Alliance Reply: Nepotism is yet another 'practice' that would be much harder
to accomplish with a union contract.
Comment 02/05/12:
IBM sponsoring NFL football. What an irony? If IBM ran the NFL
there would be an awful lot of tie ball games due to the elimination of overtime....
-gadfly-
Comment 02/05/12:
ginni's plan is to make sure the CIO is 70% GR by end of 1Q.
Only sr. execs and their toadies will be left. -S-
Comment 02/05/12: IBM
UKer's, If you want to find out the discussions your managers are having behind
your back, you can use complete a freedom of information request and get all
the information IBM holds on you. You can also name individuals who are requred
to supply copies of emails etc they hold with your name on. You may be very
surprised what you can find out. You may also want to consider joining UNITE
to get access to legal advide and support. Good luck with the fight. I'm in
the process of challenging my PBC and the process itself. -UK
IBMer-
Comment 02/05/12: There
is no PLAN B for unadulterated greed by IBM on the backs of it's hard working
employees! JOIN our UNION! -GoAlliance-
Comment 02/05/12:
@"More Jobs at IBM": Job openings may
not really mean much. If they are really hiring, this could be to replace people
that were fired and now they try to hire for a fraction of the wage. But actually
it may not even mean that they are really hiring. Big companies use decoy job
openings as PR tools. It doesn't cost much to post non-existent jobs but you
will get positive coverage in the media, as you can see from the Forbes article.
People like you and (local) politicians will be puzzled or even think that they
need to support IBMs strategie, because they are hiring. If IBM doesn't really
fill the openings, they can claim that they did not find suitable applicants
and that they need to hire from abroad or fill the jobs in countries where the
skill is available. PR means to create a favourable opinion in your local environment.
Further tools that the PR departmens use are pre-wirtten articles that go to
the media at the same time as they pay for adds, positive reviews in e.g. glassdoor
and more things of this kind. Is it ethical to manipulate in this way? I wouldn't
thinks so but that doesn't matter for a company that needs to keep the promises
of the agenda 2012. So here the question is, do they only post job openings
or are they really hiring in Miami, NYC, ... -anonymous-
Comment 02/04/12: Folks,
just look at the number of IBM US employees over the last 6 years: . 2006 -
127K. 2007 - 121K. 2008 - 115K. 2009 - 105K. 2010 - 101K. 2011 - 98K. You don't
need a Harvard MBA to see a trend there. Good old Sammy figured out a way to
keep the stock price up. He cut cost by firing US employees. There is one problem
with Sammy's plan. What do you do when the number gets to zero? Don't let Ginni
continue to execute Sammy's plan. Support the Alliance and organize now before
it is too late! -ScrewedBySammy-
Comment 02/04/12: On
the other hand I found it puzzling that IBM has many job openings in Miami,
NYC, Detroit, Minnsapolis-St Paul, see:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-hiring-employers-americas-biggest-142103857.html
-More Jobs at IBM-
Comment 02/04/12: I
am wondering if IBM has a "plan b". Suppose India or one of the other
offshore countries suffers a natural disaster, or war for example...
-TurtleDove-
Alliance Reply: Why wonder or care about what plan
IBM has for any of their offshore locations?
Why not worry about what plan YOU have. Think about you and your co-workers
plan to organize IBM US and work for a contract that is in YOUR and your CO-WORKERS
interests. Join Alliance@IBM and form "plan A": a union contract.
Now THAT'S a plan.
Comment 02/04/12: Folks,
if you are not already convinced that a uninon contract is needed, read this
paper from IBM Watson Research:
https://researcher.ibm.com/researcher/files/us-msridhar/foser061-bacon.pdf
and this newspaper report from 2009:
topcoder-names-nicholas-m-donofrio-to-companys-board-of-directors
These are clear indications that IBM started the transformation to GenerationOpen
a long time ago. Unless you have an MWL (Master of Workforce Liquidation) there
is no place for you in this new IBM. Even low level line management (1st &
2nd) is not required when you use the liquid workforce pardigme. You just need
a couple of product managers. Be smart in a smarter world. Protect yourself.
Organise! -anonymous-
Comment 02/03/12: I
like the enthusiasm and angst that some of you have made clear in your assertion
to Join the Union. I wholeheartedly agree. But make no mistake; once you join,
you need to take action and let IBM know you mean business. Concerted effort
to grow the membership while publicly demonstrating or handing out leaflets
or rallying in some way, or writing letters to your local newspaper's editor,
or having meetings with other members to pinpoint strategy and next moves. This
is called activism for a reason. Just joining and paying dues is not enough,
if you want the union to grow and be able to push back against IBM and its image
in the public eye. Reveal the practices of executive management. Expose their
lies to people inside and outside IBM. Throw their policies back in their face...but
do it all within the law and within the rules of union organizing. Don't know
all those rules? Ask an Alliance staff member. They know the rules, and they
know what IBM doesn't like but can't do anything about... Once you begin to
act and speak as a collective voice, the power of that action begins to take
effect. I'm a union member and I know this is true. 45,000 CWA Verizon workers
did just that, last year and Verizon caved in and came back to the bargaining
table.... Yes, it's true that CWA Verizon union members already had a contract,
but the point is that they acted together and demonstrated to Verizon that their
strength and skill together was greater than executive management's stubbornness.
Get busy fighting for your job, or get busy losing it. -Tyler Durden-
Comment 02/03/12: Big
cuts end-of-March in Applications Services areaS (AMS). Code Name is "Phoenix".
Approximately 10% of IBM US regular employees will get their walking papers.
Example AMS Communications sector accounts Disney, Sprint, Williams Energy,
Xcel Energy will get hit. Meanwhile IBM India continues to grow. JOIN THE UNION.
-LK-
Comment 02/03/12: In
a Perfect World.
In a perfect world large corporations would compete against each other for business
share and profits while powerful Unions would provide skilled and unskilled
labor to these corporations that are well trained and flexible within the confines
of the well written contracts they are employed under. The employees would derive
benefits like vacation and medical from the unions as part of the labor agreements
and the companies would not have the burden of administering these things across
a wide range of employees worldwide. The employees would know their incomes
and expenses and be able to manage household budgets properly to avoid foreclosures
and other nasty things and the businesses could do the same as the cast of labor
would be a constant and known entity defined by a contract acceptable to both
sides. The relationship between the companies and labor should become one of
mutual success because neither side wants the other to do badly. No company
equals no jobs. No labor equals no company. What I do not understand is why
the people who strive to bring us a smarter planet don't understand this simple
concept. If you do understand it lets push forward and get this union rolling!
-Exodus2007-
Comment 02/03/12: Now
that a slew of IBMers got the "PBC cut" e-mail from the Alliance in
their company Lotus Notes e-mail when are these folks gonna act on it? Or are
the vast majority of IBMers the "don't rock the boat" suck ups? These
types of employee IBM craves and wants. These types IBM does one thing to: RA.
Believe me, I don't have specifics, but as surely the sun rises in the east
and sets in the west, RAs are coming soon. You can bet your job on it.
-anonymous-
Comment 02/03/12: irRational:
You are 1000% correct in your observations. I am also a dues paying member and
no longer an IBM employee. It still amazes me why IBM employees don't join the
Alliance at least as a subsciber. -sby_willie-
Comment 02/03/12: Left
IBM voluntarily, and never regretted it. Still a dues-paying Alliance member
though. It saddens me to see the same discussions here, repeating like clockwork:
"RAs are coming!" "Where?" "When?" "How can
this be fair?" I must assume that my ex-IBMers are just plain stupid, or
sheep, or both.
You remaining folks have only two choices, IMO:
1. Form a union, and try to fight this constant erosion of
your benefits, salary, and job security.
2. Leave, and deny IBM your training and expertise, all of
which are eventually going to be put to work training your cheap offshore
replacements.
How can any of you stay at this company and not join the union?
By your inaction, you support their strategy of shedding American jobs, and
weakening the American jobs that remain with them. By your complacency, you
tacitly approve of what they do. By your silence, you aid and abet the destruction
of your, and your fellows' jobs. -irRational-
Comment 02/03/12: IBM
Boulder employees received same IBM Alliance email about PBC's also. Thanks!
-anonymous-
Comment 02/03/12: Bad
news ....
http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/opinion/blogpost/10679420/
-hangingon-
Comment 02/03/12: Not
sure how far out of the "Organization" - I wasn't given explicit instructions
on how far away to look - but I was told to go to the Global Opportunities intranet
page, so still within IBM.. for now.. -IBMerSince99-
Comment 02/03/12: Collective
Bargaining has been villainized in the US as has fighting against constitutional
breaches. As an American working for the IBM Machine abroad (germany), I am
happy and proud to say that labor unions have not been demolished here and that
at least to some degree corporate beasts are still tamed by a government with
a social concience. -neo-
Comment 02/03/12: Comments
02/02/12:"Seems they are making pre-RA calls today in Lotus. Employees
are being spoken to and encouraged, ASAP, to find jobs outside the organization."
-IBMerSince99-
Outside which organization? Outside Lotus or outside IBM?
"Gee this RA selection process sounds like a Gestapo operation or a
Lottery gone terribly wrong"
-anonymous-
One manager told me that that process made him want to vomit.-Gorya-
Comment 02/03/12:
Repeat after me: 2015!..2015$..2015$$$ Without a union how many of
you will still be working for IBM? -grimreaper-
Comment 02/02/12:
Only purpose of the Liquid Portal (see also topcoder.com) is to attract
freelancers (designers/developers/testers) from BRIC countries with no strings
attached, 1K is a lot of money for them, it is shocking dedicated onshore(20%)/offshore(80%)
resources are being replaced with offshore freelancers. PBCs are a measure of
how needed/convenient you are as an employee, absolutely nothing to do with
your accomplishments, 1st lines have very little say, very sad but true.
-anonymous-
Comment 02/02/12:
Last Friday everyone at IBM East Fishkill NY including employees,vendors,&
management. Received a outside email from the Alliance: PBC lowered? You are
not alone. Wondering if employees from other IBM sites received this same note
as well? Perfect timing for those who just received their PBC "3"
appraisal rating. This note lefted management red faced and in a tail spin.
Great on getting the word out! -YOU ARE NOT ALONE-
Comment 02/02/12:
"...staff that work for IBM on projects but are not full
time are called "liquid players," according to an internal..."
This is the "Liquid Portal" model that IBM has been using for
a year or two now. The intention is to eliminate employees and use individuals
to complete software projects for minimal pay. The typical compensation that
I've seen being offered is under $1000.00. Once you take out the self-employment
taxes, federal income taxes and state income taxes you are left with chicken
feed. Your only real way to combat this is to unionize in the USA and internationally.
-anonymous-
Comment 02/02/12:
Where can I find compensation numbers for union officers. want to join
but also want to see where my contributions go. -curiousfuturemember-
Alliance Reply: At this point Alliance officers are
unpaid volunteers and have been since our founding in 1999. Once a union is
certified through an election and recognized by the company then they "could"
be paid. We have 4 officers. We also have 1 full time staff person, our national
coordinator, and 1 part time IT Administrator. They are paid mainly with funds
from our parent organization CWA.
Our budget is very low. We need dues for office expenses, organizing and outreach.
Looking forward to you joining!
Comment 02/02/12:
Seems they are making pre-RA calls today in Lotus. Employees are being
spoken to and encouraged, ASAP, to find jobs outside the organization. I would
imagine the ones who don't find jobs are the ones who get axed? Guess I'll find
out... -IBMerSince99-
Comment 02/02/12:
RA selection process is IBM employee clearinghouse sweepstakes
-PBC?-
Comment 02/02/12:
-Gorya- Gee this RA selection process sounds
like a Gestapo operation or a Lottery gone terribly wrong -anonymous-
Comment 02/02/12:
If IBM wants to cut approx. 40% of German IBM employees then the 2015
number of only having about 60,000 USA IBM employees is believable. So 40,000
USA employees or so could very well be gone in just three short years. And tens
of thousands of IBMers still employed will not do anything about it. They can
try to do something about it: THINK UNION -HatchetAComing-
Comment 02/01/12:
The liquid worker is being implemented... Internally the restructuring
has been dubbed "Generation Open" and staff that work for IBM on projects
but are not full time are called"liquid players," according to an
internal document seen by Reuters. IBM-planning-major-job-cuts
Better get your act together ... those that are left.. -Ich
Bin Muede-
Comment 02/01/12:
After visitng this site on and off for a number of years, today I joined
the Alliance. I was sametiming this morning with an associate who told me they
were RA'd and in the process of training their replacement in South America.
Appalling. My PBC rating did not change despite my going above and beyond the
call of duty and donating my entire summer to a project that made the customer
extremely happy. I met all of my goals and exceeded in some areas. I know of
at least a few people who are extremely unhappy with thier PBC ratings this
year. I don't think I could ever match the amount of time and dedication I put
into that project so now I am left with a sense of disappointment and bitterness
with the entire process. I'm not playing 'poor me' but simply have taken off
the rose colored glasses and realized that the cards are indeed stacked against
the US worker and it is but a matter of time before that Friday afternoon when
your manager pings you and asks if you can "talk". Everyone I work
with is in survival mode. We are all just putting our heads down and doing our
work. It is not supposed to be like this. The customer is unhappy. They want
back what they had. When they had a person/team behind thier account who they
could call and reach out to. Not opening a ticket that gets dumped into a queue
that some boob halfway accross the globe will take 3 days to figure out and
complete. I suggest everyone that is on here reading about the cuts and the
injustice being served to us...join and see if we can make a difference. To
me it is worth $10 a month. Good luck everyone. -DisappointedIBMer-
Comment 02/01/12:
Anonymous 01/29/12 asked why the RA name list has to go to IBM legal:
"If IBM is doing everything legally since workers are 'at will
employees' what is IBM afraid or scared of?"
Because even at will employees are protected by antidiscrimination
laws. IBM tries to avoid lawsuits (especially the age discrimination suits they've
had in the past).
Therefore, months before each RA, a preliminary list, larger than the target
number, is sent to legal to check the distribution; if necessary, the distribution
is adjusted by moving names around in the list. Finally, some edge cases are
taken off the list to reduce it to the target number. On RA day, each victim
gets a list of "Selected" and "Not Selected" numbers by
position and age, which is supposed to show enough age balance to discourage
suits. (All victions should send that list to Alliance: it's the only way we
know layoff numbers.) -Gorya-
Comment 02/01/12:
I have figured out what PBC stands for... Performance Bell Curve. I
was ranked "1" in 2009, "2" in 2010 and now "3"
in 2011. Moving through the bell curve with velocity... -2015 Roadmap
Roadkill -
Alliance Reply: Actually it stands for "Personal Business Commitment";
but whatever you believe about how it works, you should also know that it is
a stacked deck and a tool for IBM to do RA's as often as they please, because
you have no binding employment contract that protects you from IBM's abuse and
injustice toward their employees. Join the union and organize. Fight back collectively,
not as an individual. Make a commitment to yourself to make a change.
Comment 02/01/12:
And the complaining continues, as do the firings, benefit cuts, and
pay cuts. WTF is going on here? Read this:
http://www.cwalocal1111.com/assets/pdfs/verizon/contracts/D1summary.pdf
and tell me what is so bleeping hard to understand about the value of having
a union contract? -Dave-
Comment 02/01/12:
IBM Germany announced this morning job cuts of up to 8000 of the current
workforce of 20000. -Mr. Worried-
Alliance reply: We are also getting that information from the IBM Germany union.
The job cuts in Germany must, by law, be negotiated with the union.
It is very different than what happens here.
Comment 02/01/12:
"...if HR is really impartial as they claim to be..."
HR is not impartial. They exist to protect the company. Period. The only
way you will ever get some partiality is to join a union who will go to bat
for you with some clout against HR. It is called a grievance. There are plenty
of articles and books on the subject of companies and corporations Human Resources
Depts. which discuss and reveal it all -HRed-
Comment 01/31/12:
And what Bullet would that be in RSD? Fired, Sold, More paycuts?
-tired-
Comment 01/31/12:
ST dev has been shipped off shore, so if you were in the US ST dev
team, you are now looking for another job. -GettinHosed-
Comment 01/31/12:
I was a second line manager in IBM. PBC rating For all of you IBMUS
employees. Just cut and and paste your last year PBC evaluation. You are already
rated by 2nd line managers at the beginning of the year. PBC ratings have already
been established by 2nd line managers and corporate. Each division is given
a percentage of employees that are to be RA at the start of each year. Corporate
uses the PBCs tool to downsize and RA employees. This entire system is corrupt.
Stop complaining and join the union. -ANA-
Comment 01/31/12:
From the UK. Hear more PBC 3 than ever before, yet met business goals...
i will be appealing against this unfair system and i exceeded all my objectives
and performed higher in terms of cost savings against my peers...perhaps its
because im over 40 and have over 12 years service under my belt and they want
young grads to take my job....was such a nice place in the mid the late 90's....
wow this company is so different -A UK Number-
Comment 01/31/12:
-No Name.. Just a Number!!!- I'm experiencing the same hostility
from my 2nd line manager for contesting my rating, he is totally disrespectful
with me for challenging their decision, I have a meeting with HR in a couple
weeks, will let you know if HR is really impartial as they claim to be...
-Anon-
Comment 01/31/12:
Gee, sametime was real slow this AM to login|connect. Coincidence?
-ST'ed-
Comment 01/31/12:
2015 Roadmap. If no ones is paying attention to it you should. Tens
of thousands of USA jobs in IBM will be gone. As well as your stock bonus that
Sam and now Ginny still dangles like candy in front of you. If you get it your
a lucky survivor. PLEASE, PLEASE do something for yourself and your fellow IBMers.
ORGANIZE and do it now! Try to reverse or at least slow the 2015 Roadmap job
reductions which will soon come. -2015-
Comment 01/31/12:
Project "Malle” in force as of today in the Canadian GDF.
Mostly changes at the first level manager level. They’ve split their job
in 3 : HR management (PBC, etc.), delivery, and “portfolio” manager
(this one is placed between the DPE and the delivery teams, similar to a SDM).
The technical teams may also be split in two between the doers on one side and
architects and SME on the other. Still a lot of details to be decided for the
final structure. This exists it seems because DPEs have lost contact with all
the delivery teams spread across the world. I do not see how a more convoluted
management structure will help to save costs…
And we all know were the cuts are going to come from, somebody has to pay for
these new positions. -CANonymous-
Comment 01/31/12:
-No Name.. Just a Number!!!- Good
for you! Let us know how it turns out.
Thanks for standing up for what is right. You have already helped the cause
for employees by setting up a meeting with HR and doing what is right.
-No Name in the US-
Comment 01/31/12:
Has anyone ever received a significant pay cut at IBM? Our group of
250 in Jan. 2009 got our base salaries cut by 17% and we never saw it again...I
am tired of this company. -AcquiredbyIBM-
Comment 01/31/12: has
anyone heard on cuts in sametime dev? i heard about it -Anonymous-
Comment 01/30/12: The
voice from the UK here... Just complained to my secondline manager, not about
my PBC rating as I know that that is just a load of bull... But about the process
behind the scores given. My PBC should have been bassed mainly on our performance
against set Business goals, but I was given my PBC result 2 weeks before the
Business Results were released. So I demanded that management provide me with
the documentation which outlines the rules around awarding PBC's. Second line
managers responce was to tell me 'not to rock the boat'. When I advised him
that I will be taking this matter to HR, unless someone did something to put
right this faulty process.... He nearly exploded, with some of the most colourful
language I've heard for a long time.... I have a appointment with HR at the
end of this week... I'll let you know who I get on. - No Name..
Just a Number!!!-
Comment 01/29/12: The
word at the watercooler is that Retail (RSD) SSRs will take a bullet come March.
Retail is no longer part of the big picture. -Anonymous-
Comment 01/29/12: "...The
(RA name) list has to go to IBM legal first..."
Why? If IBM is doing everything legally since workers are "at
will employees" what is IBM afraid or scared of? Seems like another unnecessary
expense by IBM HR. -anonymous-
Comment 01/28/12: When
the employees write up their PBC's it is a waste of time. Their rating is determined
WAY before the manager ever reads the individuals PBC. I know - I am a manager.
So the PBC process is a joke. On RA's - the list of impacted folks are created
2 months before they are told. The list has to go to IBM legal first. Once on
a list it is nearly impossible to get off the list. IBM will reduce US workforce
50% by 2015 Guaranteed - I have seen the documents. - RA & PBC-
Alliance reply: If you have the documents, please send to ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
Comment 01/28/12: There
will be a BIG RA in GBS in 1Q12. This is a fact. folks will be told end of Feb
and end date will be end of March. Folks in all areas will be affected. The
only way to keep showing profit increase is to kill off expenses since revenue
is not growing. US resources are major targets. -RA coming-
Comment 01/28/12: Can
anyone reading this, not in the Alliance, afford just $0.33 a day? If so, why
not join us? -IBMUnionYES-
Alliance reply: Thank you
for pointing this out. The funding is essential to organzing; but by itself,
cannot bring a union contract to IBMers. The IBMers that join and pay dues must
also be actively pursuing new members to join and take action in their workplace;
whether it's a virtual workplace or a brick and mortar site. Combine the funding
with activities that contribute to the growth of the numbers of US IBMers that
want a contract and a voice in their workplace, where ever it is.
Comment 01/27/12: "You
can get the "MBA" (Market Based Adjustment), but you have to be well
below the midpoint for your band/job family/region."
The question is CAN and WILL? I can attest that I was
a PBC 2+ and well below the midpoint and got no MBA. But I did get an RA instead.
It also all depends which band/job family/region IBM wishes to include in an
MBA. Since USA "market based pay" has been depressed most IT skill
sets get no MBA. It all depends on IBM's whims. I would rather have a contract
than depending on the whims of IBM whether I can get an MBA or not. -sby_willie-
Comment 01/27/12: Wonder
why more PBC 3's? I have a theory: since IBM sees that not enough speak up about
management abuses or join this union movement then IBM believes giving many
more a PBC 3 is just peachy. Since IBM management can get away with it with
no resistance. If more folks would join the union here maybe it wouldn't be
so peachy for IBM management getting their way always with the employees. If
you don't take up the fight then the fight by IBM management comes to you and:
hello...it has. IBM employee pacifism is appalling IMHO. -anonymous-
Comment 01/27/12: Stand
by... The 3's are being handed out and recorded by close of business today.
I just got mine. Would have completed my 25th year this December. I could feel
the target getting bigger on my back. Time to move on... -2015 Roadmap
Roadkill-
Comment 01/27/12: So,
let's say you have a department and people with different roles - PM, architect,
developer. Let's say everyone does equally excellent work in their role. Is
it fair that the highest appraisals always go to the PMs and architect since
they are now required to give a "2" or worse to 60% of the department?
I believe this was deliberate, and they are encouraging etrition to avoid RA
payouts in preparation for offshoring of the 60%. So, this what they learn in
the prestigious American MBA programs these days, huh? How to screw your fellow
American for an easy offshoring buck? Deplorable and pathetic. -Anonymous-
Comment 01/26/12: Rumors
of layoffs in TPF, a mainframe operating system. 20 out of 70 being R/A'd. More
mainframe development departments training their IBM China replacements. So
many seem resigned to their fate. They don't have to be. A union of technical
folks can be a formidable force. If only Jane and John Beemer could focus their
formidable brainpower for a few minutes a day to their own survival and join
Alliance@IBM. -Anonymous-
Comment 01/26/12: I
know this board is about job cuts but just one more clarification.
You *can* get a raise with a PBC 2 - just not the merit based component. You
can get the "MBA" (Market Based Adjustment), but you have to be well
below the midpoint for your band/job family/region. -Anonymouse-
Alliance reply: Here's another clarification: You can get a contract with much
more than raises and benefits included, if you organize and stand together;
instead of picking the nearly clean bones of the promises and needs of the business
'awards' that IBM throws at IBMers today, as their 'reward' for their excessive
hours, delayed promotions, absolute disrespect, and daily fear of job loss and
mistreatment through their "career".
Comment 01/26/12: How
many of you PBC complainers have joined the union? It's amazing to me that people
will come here and complain, and that other people will advise them to use IBM's
own processes to handle things, when we all know it's a stacked deck and our
ONLY chance of fair treatment is to form a union. There is absolutely no downside
to becoming a member, and the potential for getting us all some help is tremendous.
So discouraging to see such talented people acting so weak. This includes you,
GDF employees; you're treated horribly. Do something about it before it's too
late. -anon-
Alliance reply: Thanks for your comment. To answer your question,
we only gained 3 new members this month. This site gets at least 1600 visits
a day, far more than the number of members we have.
As mentioned before, membership in the Alliance is confidential. IBM will not
get your name.
Dues go to a variety of expenses in organizing and our existence, not just this
web site.
If we are to take on IBM we need a war chest.
Comment 01/26/12: @Zackncody,
it is amazing how little awareness people have. Make a point of talking to "One"
person a day even if it means getting that person to talk to just one person
a day and before you know it, the awareness level has increased. This "word
around the campfire" has been the same original plan in place since
2001 and has been made fruition SINCE the 2003 ALL HANDS CALLS. Pay attention
to the details and this would not be such a secret. Pay attention to the code
words they announce and watch the results as the year wears on. Stop living
in survival mode and talk to at least one person a day. -Where-Are-You-now?-
Comment 01/26/12: Some
of us have posted about seeing a PowerPoint presentation a few years back. It
showed the global workforce targets with the number of US workers as 20%. Of
this 20%, 10-15% is to be landed resources (here on visas) and Americans /legal
residents are to be 5-10%. Think of all the visa holders you now see on your
account. That is where they are going. At best 10% of the IBM global workforce
will be American. The global work force is now about 450,000, so that would
then mean about 45,000 Americans is the target. The American number is currently
estimated to be about 98,000, so half that will be RA'd or positions left open
by attrition.
______________
"Word around the campfire is that by 2015, half of
the US workforce will be gone. Let's hope otherwise. -Zackncody- "
-anonymous-
Comment 01/25/12: Right
you are alliance. The exec's are measured by profit for their group. Targets
are set at the beginning of the year and when they hit them they get their bonus
money. If they don't they get booted to a staff holding tank. No PBC for them
just profit or loss. -benthere-
Comment 01/25/12: So
did Virginia Romeatie raised the bar on Old McDonald, evil HR director? Of course
not. He got no worse than a PBC 2+. Probably his usual PBC 1. -anonymoose-
Alliance Reply: Who cares? Really? Do you think that what the CEO or the HR
director does, really matters anymore to IBM US employees? Isn't it just more
of the same? Don't you think it's time to organize after all these years, instead
of wondering about what Exceutive management is doing? They are giving you (IBMers
US) the shaft; and they have been for a long time. Start organizing! Join
the Alliance, and
get focused on bringing a union contract to the bargaining table. Never mind
the PBC's for the CEO and the HR director. Incidentally, those execs don't even
USE the PBC system on themselves, FYI...
Comment 01/25/12: -BlockedDefense-
Absolutely your manager can hold you back. It happened to me not once but
at least twice. Happens all the time. Ever hear of "Needs of the Business"?
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to take a qualifying test for the job opening,
pass it with great marks, and then your present manager has to release you since
you are in the top 10 or so qualified for the union job and the provisions of
the contract say that your management can not hold back a qualified employee
from getting another job in the company? -RAed2009-
Comment 01/25/12: I
heard from collegues, IBM Canada SW group is handing out 3 ratings to the majority
of it's employees, their commisions have been capped by much as 40% of what
was expected.. HR had to get involved because employees cried fowl, I understand
managers were read the riot act by HR for not following the proper procedure
for rating employees 3s; something to do with not indicating to the employees
during the previous year that their performance was dropping via a mid year
PBC reviews.. -Canadian-
Comment 01/25/12: Word
around the campfire is that by 2015, half of the US workforce will be gone.
Let's hope otherwise. -Zackncody-
Alliance reply: Let's ORGANIZE "otherwise" instead of
just hope, ok?
Comment 01/25/12: Enough
discussion about PBCs... This board is SUPPOSED to be about Job Cuts. Do any
of the new comment makers here NOT read the comments that came before theirs?
Did you read the Alliance replies to comments regarding PBCs?? Here for your
benefit, again:
"Alliance reply: We don't advocate 'kicking back and relaxing'. Do
all of you want to keep doing this year after year? Organize for a contract
and let's get rid of PBC and negotiate a sane evaluation process."
and here's another:
"Alliance reply: Absolutely! IBM gets away with its mistreatment
of employees based on fear and intimidation. Let's end this now. Fight for a
union, organize and let's get a contract that does away with IBM's PBC."
Why is it necessary to continue ranting about something that WILL NOT
CHANGE unless YOU stand up for yourselves and change it? WTF is wrong with you
people, anyway? Are you still living in the 1980's when life was good and IBM
treated you sooooo good?
To Alliance: Please stop posting discussions about PBC's to this board. This
is about Job Cuts, and you are doing the right thing by telling IBMers to organize
and get a contract that rids IBM employees of the insane PBC system in the first
place. Thank you for all that you have done and are doing since 1999. I'm a
union member and proud of it. -Read Much?-
Comment 01/25/12: Without
a union, human resource and H/R director Randy MacDonald control the PBC ratings.
Randy and all executives have a contract, but IBMUS employess are not respresented
and have no contract, the days of respect for the individual are long gone at
IBMUS. We need a union to protect from these corrupt corporate practices. Join
the union. -ANA-
Comment 01/25/12: "Durham/RTP
NC - More PBC 3 ratings this year than ever before. If your manager told you
this is just a one off and you can fix this next year, it's a load of bull.
You're in the RA list. Rest Assured. -support_guy_rtp-"
Absolutely right. In fact, if you are dropped at any level (i.e.
1 to 2) you will probably be on the RA list. Don't believe what your manager
says. Here is another fact. You're 2nd line is probably calling all the shots
about you and your 1st line probably doesn't even know it. IBM has had a lot
of time to figure out their RA strategy. They have been doing it for almost
20 years now. It all started in the early 90s when 3 finger Lou got on board.
IBM is getting very good at it. -Gone from Big Blow-
Comment 01/25/12: This
is the kind of workforce American comapnies want. Beware.
"Apple executives say that going overseas, at this point,
is their only option. One former executive described how the company relied
upon a Chinese factory to revamp iPhone manufacturing just weeks before the
device was due on shelves. Apple had redesigned the iPhone's screen at the last
minute, forcing an assembly line overhaul. New screens began arriving at the
plant near midnight. A foreman immediately roused 8,000 workers inside the company's
dormitories, according to the executive. Each employee was given a biscuit and
a cup of tea, guided to a workstation and within half an hour started a 12-hour
shift fitting glass screens into beveled frames. Within 96 hours, the plant
was producing over 10,000 iPhones a day. "The speed and flexibility is
breathtaking", the executive said. "There's no American plant that
can match that. From the NY Times -member-
Comment 01/25/12: -Anonymous-
"this is a pay cut - zero variable pay"
Of course it's a freaking pay cut! That's exactly the intent.
Does anyone really think that the majority of ibmers are going to be rated as
1 or 2+? That's just not going to happen. Most will be rated as 2 with no variable
pay, or 3 with no variable pay and no profit sharing. And while we're on the
subject of pay cuts, does anyone remember the term 'total compensation' as used
by management when trying to justify little or no raises? ANY reduction in your
total compensation is a pay cut, whether it's a reduced pension (4 of them since
'91), or having to pay more for medical coverage every year, or having your
appraisal artificially lowered. The real question here is "what are you
going to do about it?" -Dave G-
Comment 01/24/12: First
2 in over 20 years? Certainly a statement to raise eyebrows. Statement such
as this creates hope among the unsuspecting employees.PBC is a flawed process.
If a senior (who can influence decisions) with whom one does not have good relationships
is promoted to a manager, how can one be sure this will not affect the ratings?
Is there a way to ensure "fairness"? -toFirst2-
Comment 01/24/12: Hi,
can an IBM manager give you a low rating and also block you from moving to another
job in IBM (if you find one)? About 1.5 years ago, I found another job in IBM
but my manager blocked it saying he needed me for another six months. He gave
me an average rating last year and I foolishly stayed on. This year, he has
given me an even lower rating and I can't wait to leave. Could he block again
if I find a job (harder though it may be this time because of my own foolishness)?
-BlockedDefense-
Alliance reply: Of course your manager can. Without a union contract you are
at the mercy of management decisions.
Comment 01/24/12: 2011
was my first year to IBM, have worked really hard, overtime, weekends more than
the average employees. I had not only learn IBM systems quickly but have made
many projects successful........ Got the rating of "2" today is it
worthy of my days and night I have spend...? -anonymous-
Comment 01/24/12: PBC
2 is eligible for the profit sharing / variable pay -Anon-
Comment 01/24/12: "First
"2" ever - in 20 years of being an IBMer, and I am pissed off."
Instead of being pissed off start ORGANIZING your fellow workers who got
the same PBC treatment!
Otherwise next you could get a PBC 3. -IBMUnionYes-
Comment 01/24/12: To
the person who received a "2" for the first time in 20 years, you
are eligible for variable pay. However, you are not eligible for a raise/salary
increase around June timeframe. For first time in many years I was also rated
a "2", with horse pucky excuses. My manager did state that I am not
eligible for salary increase, but will get variable pay. This is something IBMers
are missing. If a 1 of 2+, you get variable pay and raise. If a 2, just variable
pay. If a 3, hang it up as you are a goner during the next resource action.
-Hanging In There-
Comment 01/24/12: Kudos
to -Amazed- and -Read Much?- for telling it like it is! And
no, you're not being too harsh. More like not harsh enough. Folks need to stop
whining, stop fighting the system by themselves, get off their butts and get
on with the organizing. No one wins anything sitting on the couch. -Dave-
Comment 01/24/12: First
"2" ever - in 20 years of being an IBMer, and I am pissed off. This
is effectively a pay cut - zero variable pay. -Anonymous-
Comment 01/24/12: Durham/RTP
NC - More PBC 3 ratings this year than ever before. If your manager told you
this is just a one off and you can fix this next year, it's a load of bull.
You're in the RA list. Rest Assured. -support_guy_rtp-
Comment 01/23/12: Dont
you think it is laughable that on the bottom of the PBC form it says if you
do have comments add them here wether you agree or disagree with the PBC assessment
you been given. I tried one time before to appeal against a PBC grading and
had a paper trail as long as my arm - never got any futher with the claim and
as for the so called workers council they were as much use as an ashtray on
a motorbike. The sad situation is that you could have accomplished flying to
the moon and back in some respects but because the PBC process is completely
open to biased opinions you may as well kick back and relax and take the hit.
-Tryas Youmay-
Alliance reply: We don't advocate "kicking back and relaxing". Do
all of you want to keep doing this year after year? Organize for a contract
and let's get rid of PBC and negotiate a sane evaluation process.
Comment 01/22/12: Here
is a suggestion to all those facing getting lower pbc's and fighting it. Become
a public member of the Alliance and fight back. make management sweat! Make
a lot of noise! -member-
Alliance reply: Absolutely! IBM gets away with its mistreatment of employees
based on fear and intimidation. Let's end this now. Fight for a union, organize
and let's get a contract that does away with IBM's PBC.
Comment 01/22/12: -NoName-
it appears that you won the battle but I think you lost the law. My bet is your
manager is being counseled by his manager for not following the book on lowering
a PBC. You may find yourself in a small reorg. and moved to another manager.
Please watch your back. I think you will now be treated differently. Also unfortunatly
someone else in your group was moved down to a 3. Good luck -benthere-
Comment 01/21/12: As
some others have posted here, getting a PBC overturned can likely put you at
the top of the next RA list. First lines (and 2nd lines too) do NOT like being
challenged and thoroughly dislike being proven wrong on PBCs. Plese let us know
how you make out. As to Loughridge, he has those buzz words down to a science.
I am actually surprised someone challenged him. Or maybe it was just a plant
so he could doublespeak!!! -formeribmslave-
Comment 01/21/12: If
more folks got lower PBCs this time then you can bet variable this year is gonna
sucka$$ -anonymous-
Comment 01/21/12: -NoName-,
Now you are really at the top of their list for the next RA. You're not home
free. If they didn't want you gone, they would not have given you a PBC that
fit their goal for the next RA. I worked for IBM for 11 years. When your numbers
up, you may be able to stall a bit, but in the end your name was on their list
for a reason (not that it's justified). Just a reality check. Don't get over
confident, Start looking outside the company before you have to.
-Tony-
Comment 01/20/12: Got
Good news fought PBC and won :) you will win if u document right keep and audit
trail keep police yourself keep a journal and note everything. It works did
for me this year as my manager tried to doc me but my senior manager negated
it because I had the appropriate documentation and valid arguments. -NoName-
Comment 01/20/12: There
is talk of employee cuts at the Burlington VT plant. Not sure how many or what
areas. The reason is cost cutting. There are a lot of closed door manager meetings
going on right now. Stay tuned. -WhistleBlower-
Comment 01/20/12:
Loughridge on analyst call: During the analyst conference call, Loughridge
was asked a question about his comments on productivity gains being a part of
IBM's growth in profitability. Toni Sacconaghi of Sanford Bernstein asked if
that were "a code word for labor migration offshore" or job reductions
that were done in the beginning of the year. Loughridge answered by characterizing
the productivity moves more as "large structural takeout" that is
'a big assist' to the overall profit margins in services. He added that more
is on the way. "We're going to rebalance our workforce" he said, in
order to keep skills aligned with opportunities and investments. This "should
be roughly consistent with what we've seen over the last for years, more specifically,
like what we saw in 2010." -unionyes-
Comment 01/19/12: If
you fight the PBC and win the higher evaluation, then you might get variable
pay. Depending on what you bring forth in your PBC defense, you may save yourself
from the next round of RAs. With a higher PBC rating, you stand a better chance
of changing jobs. I agree, most are let go regardless of winning the increased
rating. I say fight it! -AlreadyDone-
Comment 01/19/12: Have
heard of new layoffs in US GBS - dont have numbers but I know it is happening
folks will be told in Feb and exit March -newlayoffs-
Comment 01/17/12: By
the time that you receive a PBC 3, you are already marked and on a list for
cutting, be it through the next RA or otherwise. This is a check box that just
about finalizes it. Trust me, because that is what happened to me in 2009. You
have no power working through the current system in place at IBM. You can only
work to change the system. -Oatmeal-
Comment 01/17/12: What
does it take to get through to you people? What does the Alliance need to say
or have to tell you that will turn the light on for you? The comments that have
been coming in here lately, demonstrate a lack of ability to read the replies
that Alliance has given to the same comments over and over and over. To prove
my point, just "search" this comments page with the words 'alliance
reply:' and read the comment it comes to and then read alliance's reply... keep
doing that and when you've finished this page, go to the "Your Comments"
menu and click on any of the "archives" of comments. Then do the same
search on 'alliance reply:'... I'd be willing to bet you'll begin to see what
the definition of "repeat" or "review" really is. Can you
NOT learn anything from these replies? Can you NOT deduce what to do after reading
these replies? Can you NOT read at all? Sorry to be so harsh; but it is apparent
that the Alliance has been telling you the the ways in which you can bring a
union into IBM. They've spelled it out many times, and they've provided links
to other sections of their web site to give you MORE information and help so
that you can make an informed decision. WTF else do you need? Join the alliance
and get busy growing the numbers of US IBMers that join and start standing up
to US IBM management. Get busy organizing or get busy losing your job and your
livelihood. -Read Much?-
Comment 01/17/12: I
have been gone for more than 4 years and I am just amazed that people waste
their time on here talking about fighting PBC's. After all these years? Seriously?
PBC's??? If you are still at IBM at this point, each and every single one of
you should be talking to all of your coworkers and organizing to get a union.
If you aren't, then lay down and die now. It's not worth working at such a company
in this day and age without a UNION! All of us who are gone, and chime in here
now and then, all the notes from Exodus, don't get through to those of you who
are left? Don't complain about stupid PBC's and what IBM is doing to you this
time. I'm saddened that after all these years people are still bitching. Join
forces all of you that are left and DO something about it! Get your office and
every other office together and vote in a Union and stop complaining about how
bad you are being treated. If you don't, you might as well dig a hole and just
jump in and lay down. -Gone_in_07_&_amazed-
Comment 01/17/12: -gadfly-
it doesn't mean anything that you refuse to sign your pbc. The manager just
signs it and states you refused to sign but the pbc was done. you are now considered
a rouge employee. you will now move down on the ranking list -dontmatter-
Comment 01/16/12: If
you have received a '3' then you have nothing to lose by fighting it. When you
talk to your 2nd line manager remember he/she is basically just a rubber stamp
for your first line's appraisal, So your objective at this meeting should not
be to get a reversal of the rating but rather on getting specifics as to why
you are being rated a "3". There is a good likelihood that you'll
be able to use the 2nd line's response in your appeal (Most 2nd lines managers
don't have a good idea of the work that you have or have not done during the
past year). Before filing the appeal you need to read all the info IBM has on
appraisals and ratings on their web sites. Then try to use IBM own words, systems
(email, labor claiming, change and problem management, etc) and documentation
to refute the 3 appraisal. Request a five member panel review. You will get
three employees and two managers on your panel chosen at random. Most employees
in IBM are aware of how management treats its employees and that the PBC process
has been compromised and is now used as a way to suppress wages and reduce/outsource
employees. So if you can make a sound case you may have a better chance than
you think. -Jake-
Comment 01/16/12: "Fighting
PBCs!! In 2009 my good friend got a 3. He fought it and had it reversed to a
2. In April he was selected for a Resource Action. Coincidence? Yeah, right.
You will NEVER have a chance without someone fighting for you. A union is your
ONLY ONLY hope. But the majority of IBMers just don't get it. So, let's wait
for the next bomb to drop!! "
I completely agree. I have seen many examples of what you described. Fighting
the PBC rating is a waste of time. You will only anger your manager. You need
someone with some real legal clout on your side. There are laws to prevent workplace
abuse and protect your job. A Union can help you enforce these laws. Don't be
stupid and lose your job. Support the Alliance. -DontBeStupid-
Comment 01/15/12: I
told my mgr that I wouldn't sign my pbc unless he gave me a worse rating. I
wanted my rating to reflect the butchered performance bonus. We continue to
perform at the same level, but the money is gone. I for one, am not going to
continue doing it. -gadfly-
Comment 01/15/12: Fighting
PBCs!! In 2009 my good friend got a 3. He fought it and had it reversed to a
2. In April he was selected for a Resource Action. Coincidence? Yeah, right.
You will NEVER have a chance without someone fighting for you. A union is your
ONLY ONLY hope. But the majority of IBMers just don't get it. So, let's wait
for the next bomb to drop!! -Anonymous-
Comment 01/15/12: @ANA
has it correct. IBM managers are nothing more than puppets to execute the 2015
road map. IBM designated categories and allotted money for each area:
1 - Promotion - raise
2+ - Raise
2 - no raise or very small one that is eaten up by inflation.
3 - Lay Off Target on your back, (you should have taken this seriously by now).
Managers have VERY LITTLE input other than that they have to trim the budget
with RA's and other mix of savings. Back in the capitalism days there was such
a thing as making revenue. -Tunnel-Light-is-Off-
Comment 01/15/12: If
all you PBC 3 folks now would rise up, unite, and fight IBM on this injustice
then you all have at least a chance to reverse it. If you don't flock together
now you will be picked off one-by-one. This is not a threat; it is truth. It
is IBM unwritten, unmentioned history. The pension change in 1999 showed what
strength IBMs could exert (it could have been more powerful but...) Strength
in numbers! Unite. This is the Alliance message. -anonymous-
Comment 01/15/12: The
longer everyone who is an employee in IBM and who is not joining the cause of
the Alliance WAITS the WORSE the abuse by IBM management will get. If you are
disappointed in your PBC 3 rating then continue to sit around, do nothing, and
see what is going to be next. If it isn't an RA coming it will be something
like taking your growth driven pay or your 401K match away...or something else.
-waiting4?-
Comment 01/14/12: Thanks
folks for the advice re fighting my 3 rating, will let my manager know I want
to contest it... BTW - an exIBMer I worked with a few years back called me up
out of the blue and said there is an opening at his company for a Pre Sales
rep which I will also pursue...
IBM has become too stressful of a company to work for without representation,
management only treats their so-called friends with respect and dist the rest,
it really does not matter how much you do anymore for this company… Hope
I land the presale job and get the hell out of this Stressful Pit.. -Anon-
Alliance Reply: Your comment "...without representation"
is exactly what Alliance@IBM has been trying to achieve since 1999. When do
the dots connect for US IBMers, and reveal that organizing a union of IBMers
is an alternative to quitting a company that abuses its employees to the 'enth'
degree? I hope things work out for you; however, IBMers will still be "without
representation" after you are gone...unless they decide that enough is
enough, and they are willing to fight back together, to make IBM the place they
would rather work for, than somewhere else.
Comment 01/14/12: This
is you:
apple-factory-inspections-turn-up-scores-of-labor-violations
unless you organize. -Neal Watkins-
Comment 01/14/12: To
- Lowly SDM- There is no such thing as protesting
a PBC rating. First and second line managers are given amount a employess each
year to cut head count. The only thing that will stop this abuse of IBM employees
is a union. All the discussions in the world will not change your PBC rating.
If you are over 50 years of age you a have target on your back to be RAed. Join
the union. -ANA-
Comment 01/14/12: Resource
action announced Jan 13 2012. Impacts north America sales and distribution.
Execs and non execs impacted -Anonymous-
Comment 01/14/12: -dun
4- and -exguard- Fully agree with you. Last year first level and
other managers informed people that prior to the year end review HR had informed
the departments the numbers allowed for 1, 2+. There is a bell curve for 2's.
HR sits in at the final Department roll up when the decision is made. It is
obscene that one has to boil down a years work to fit a power point slide with
a predefined template. Making font smaller to fit more is not allowed. Top it
off with requiring a photo id so they know who they are talking about. We were
told that the upper level process allows only 60 seconds per employee for the
final culling - sorry decision. This years ranking gives rise to reflect. I
will continue to do my job. I no longer will as be efficient or quick as to
identify that which will damage image and impact revenue. Wake up to reading
it in the news now. -Anon-
Comment 01/14/12: Nice
job posting the contract examples. Should help cover the "what's in it
for me" excuse for being a fence sitter. A contract summary link was also
posted by -union yes- that is brief and to the point - maybe that one
also could be added to the "Home Front" tab? A contract like this
one with free retiree medical and pension increases would be priceless for ibm
retirees. And from recent posts, it looks like the pbc rating games continue.
They've been doing this for a while now, haven't they? This is just another
great reason to get out there and organize a union to protect yourself with
a contract! Seems like there's no shortage of reasons, doesn't it? -Dave
G.-
Alliance Reply: Thanks Dave. The Contract Summary IS part of the "Home
Front" tab, and I also posted the same list of contracts on the Front page
of our web site, titled "Sample Contracts" at the top. I will add
more sample contracts as I get them or find them in our archives. Yes, we agree.
These contracts may be many pages; but they cover everything in strict detail
and leave no open loopholes for management to circumvent the contract's intention.
Incidentally, CEO's and top company executives get contracts drawn up just as
air tight if not tighter, so that they are protected from the BoD, should anything
'go wrong' during their tenure. Why shouldn't the employees have a similar advantage
and protection? There are no reasons I can think of.
Comment 01/13/12: If
your PBC rating was dropped to a 3 you have nothing to lose by fighting to get
it raised back up since if you do nothing but stay disappointed with the PBC
3 you will soon lose your job. -fight_it-
Comment 01/13/12: -AlreadyDone-
If your PBC went from a 2 to 3 and you had a union contract you could file
a grievance and have your union help fight for you to get your performance better
reviewed. -union_guy-
Comment 01/13/12:
For those of you receiving a PBC 3 rating this year - if you didn't have a mid
year review and your manager hadn't had a conversation with you, you should
protest it. As a former manager, I can tell you that a PBC 3 should NEVER be
a surprise to an employee. They should have an idea it is coming and the groundwork
for that rating should have shown up in a midyear review or other meeting with
your manager. I can't promise you will win, but at least your first and second
line will sweat bullets when they have to answer why there were no mid year
reviews or other performance discussions held prior to the rating notification.
-LowlySDM-
Comment 01/13/12: I
am an exmanager that left IBM last year just sick of the I am just following
orders BS. Fight a "3" always. Relative contribution is a lie because
it can't be quantified. This is on purpose within IBM to support the skew. It
is no accident in a metric based company like IBM there is no clear metric to
individual performance and a commitment to pay bonuses or raises. All the americans
will get picked off one at a time through the performance process. Your only
chance to keep your job in the next few year is to join the union so you can
demand fair, measurable performance ratings and raises. -exguard-
Comment 01/13/12: a
summary of a CWA contract
http://www.cwalocal1111.com/assets/pdfs/verizon/contracts/D1summary.pdf
-unionyes-
Comment 01/13/12: "First
they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't
a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because
I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out
for me." -Pastor Martin Niemöller-
I am an Alliance member because I believe we need to start standing up
for ourselves - together. I pay the dues because I can - I have a job (and it's
not that much money). If the time comes when I have no income and that has to
change, I'll worry about that then, but we need to help get the word out and
make sure people know how these companies treat their employees, and we need
to get together and act as one - they keep whittling us down little by little
and individually, we don't stand a chance. Joining the union will help (note
that I am not an officer, administrator, or receive any compensation from the
Alliance). We can read between the lines. We all know this isn't about making
good business decisions in a free market...it's about greed and a handful of
people exploiting the rest of us. Treating us like ****, constantly taking away
from us, and firing us to give themselves more money (and then making those
who are left "do more with less" - more work, less pay and benefits.
More fear of losing your job (and thus intimidating you into not speaking up),
less hope for the future). Don't just shrug your shoulders and let it go....DO
SOMETHING!!! -juggernaut-
Comment 01/13/12: There
is an initiative to lower everyone's PBC. This came out in November 2011. The
'bar' has changed. Last year 50% of the employee population could be 2+ or higher.
This year it has been lowered. 40% or less can be 2+ or higher. Most will be
2s or 3s this year. Another way for ibm to save by not giving you a raise this
year, and lowering your March bonus. Don't be surprised when you receive your
rating this month to see it lowered. It's standard across the board.
-dun-4-
Comment 01/13/12: What
is with the pbc's being dropped from 1's to 3's? That seems drastic and unreasonable.
-workerbee-
Alliance Reply: Some our sources are saying this is the way to get around resource
actions. You are dropped in PBC level and then forced out for "performance
issues".
As a firing or force out it is not a resource action. IBM saves money and severance
pay is lower.
It is also a way to hide the continued decline of the IBM US employee population.
Make no mistake, many of you now are a target for an unreasonable and unjust
job loss. It does not matter how good a job you are doing. Being dropped from
a 1 to a 3 proves that.
And yes offshoring is still playing a role here. Organize and fight back!
Comment 01/13/12: "Just
went from a 1 rating to a 3... very disappointed with this rating.. "
There is no protection for US IBM employees in reference to PBC
ratings. Without a union to represent you, You have no say. PBC ratings are
only used to get rid of people and are based on head count and second line managers
head count reductions. IBM does not care about you or your years wih the company.
Without a union, you are on an island by yourself. Management will win everytime.
If you want to stop this abuse,join the union. -ANA-
Comment 01/13/12: FightBack,
for the most part the "evil" is not from 1st lines, they're just struggling
to keep their jobs like you. The "evil" are the rules that descend
from IBMHR. These set the overall tone, impossible goals(3's), the miserable
environment and low morale index that exist today. Management has no incentive
to change any of this as long as there are more potential employees then jobs.
-HRtheEvilOnes-
Comment 01/13/12: AlreadyDone,
in regards to fighting a PBC3 and the following RA, why not cherish a PBC3 and
get the hell out of the pig? -splitThePig-
Comment 01/13/12: If
anyone's PBC went from 2 to 3, you should go before the PBC review Panel. That
3 is a RA waiting. Write up your reasons for review, you can search the process
in PBC area of employee info. You need to fight that 3 rating. -AlreadyDone-
Comment 01/12/12: "Just
went from a 1 rating to a 3... very disappointed with this rating.. "
Don't be disappointed, do something about it. My manager slowly and methodically
lowered my apprasial over the course of 2 years. I then got RAed. The thing
I regret most is not fighting back. There are some evil and corrupt managers
at IBM. Don't let them ruin your life and your career. -Fight Back-
Comment 01/12/12: "Just
went from a 1 to a 3." I have heard rumors that severance packages
will now be based on your performance. So I'm sure everyone will be 3 in 2012.
-gonein11-
Comment 01/11/12: New
Years resolution: No more comp time for evening or weekend work. It's called
OT morons, you either pay it or do not schedule us to work the extra hours.
Stick the comp time up your a$$ losers. -Johan-
Comment 01/11/12: PBC
is around the corner and if it is not a 1+ or a 1 after all my hard work this
year than I am convinced that all 1st line managers are useless to the world.
-Moron for staying so long-
Comment 01/11/12: Not
the way to do it! Microsoft probes mass suicide threat at China plant!
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http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/11/world/asia/china-microsoft-factory/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
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Organize. Get a contract or maybe this will be us sometime...
-Neal Watkins-
Comment 01/11/12: "Just
went from a 1 rating to a 3." Really? No warning. Your manager never
told you, you would drop so much? How could IBM HR allow this, huh? This is
why you need a union contract. -Anonymoose-
Comment 01/11/12: -Exodus2007-
The feeling in IBM is still "...it ain't true. It will not
happen to me." IBMers have to look at the person in the mirror before that
person disappears figuratively and/or literally. Yes, Union now!
-IBMUnionYES!-
Comment 01/11/12: I
presume all of you complaining here are alliance members? If you do not join,
expect even more draconian measures. Hey IBM, how abou 