News from the Communications Workers of America
The Union for the Information Age

For Release
Embargoed for Sunday, May 22, 2005, 6 p.m. EDT

For More Information
Lee Conrad, in Endicott, N. Y., (607) 729-4652
Or Jeff Miller or Candice Johnson,
CWA Communications, 202-434-1168

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

International Unions Release Joint Statement on IBM Restructuring, Job Cuts

Endicott, N. Y. -- On Monday, May 23, the Alliance@IBM, CWA Local 1701, will join with international unions, Work Councils and IBM employees worldwide in a show of solidarity to protest IBM’s (NYSE:IBM) plan to slash 10,000 to 13,000 jobs. Around the globe, unions and employee groups are planning individual and coordinated actions.

In conjunction with the Day of Action, some 25 IBM unions and Works Councils are issuing the following statement to IBM:

“We, the Trade Unions, Works Councils and employee representatives at IBM worldwide, issue this joint statement expressing our grave concern over IBM’s recent announcement of job cuts of 10,000 to 13,000 employees worldwide.

We believe the restructuring proposed by IBM senior management is the wrong direction for employees, the company and its customers.

Let us not forget that IBM is a wealthy and successful company. Its first quarter profit for 2005 was $1.4 billion, and $9 billion for the whole of 2004. It increased the dividend to its shareholders, recently bought back $5 billion in IBM stock, and acquired 19 companies in 2004.

As employees and employee representatives we call on IBM to do the following:

  • Arrange for timely and faithful full disclosure and transparency of the restructuring plans.
  • Negotiate and consult with all unions, work councils and employee representatives.
  • Explore cost cutting with employee representatives that doesn't’t involve job cutting.
  • Cease involuntary force-outs.
  • Respect the employee and their right to organize and bargain collectively.
  • Ensure that wages and working conditions are equal for similar work, wherever the job is located in the world.
  • Establish re-training programs for those threatened with job loss


We, the undersigned Trade Unions and Work Councils, STAND TOGETHER to defend the interests of IBM employees worldwide and to help build the future of IBM and our customers.

  • LBC-NVK union of IBM Belgium
  • Sif IBM Sweden
  • IBM Europe Works Council: Risto Salmela
  • CNE union representatives at IBM Belgium
  • IG Metall Stuttgart Germany
  • SETCA-BBTK union of IBM Belgium: François Mougenot
  • CGT IBM France: Paul Desaigues
  • FTM-CGT France (Fédération des Travailleurs de la Métallurgie, the metalworkers trade union): Christian Pilichowski
  • Alliance@IBM/CWA USA: Linda Guyer, Lee Conrad
  • Union Network International
  • Verdi Germany
  • Amicus UK: Peter Skyte
  • Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO: President Morton Bahr
  • Japan Metal and Information Workers Union IBM Chapter: President Tsuneo Higa
  • IBM Italy National Coordinating Body of Labour Union Representatives
  • Dutch Federation of Labour Unions (FNV)
  • UNSA IBM France: Pierry POQUET
  • IG Metall HQ Germany
  • Sif union clubs at IBM Svenska AB
  • CF union club at IBM Svenska AB: Anders Melin
  • Vorsitzender des Betriebsrates IBM Austria Works Council: Dr Martin Rennhofer
    Toimihenkilounioni / Union of Salaried Employees TU Finland: Leskelä-Mustonen Oili
  • Local 911, CEP Representing workers in ISM Saskatchewan Division,
  • IBM Global Services Canada: President Gary Schoenfeldt
  • UFICT CGT France Metallurgie: Fabrice Fort
  • CFDT France: Michel Peraud
  • FORCE OUVRIERE: David Goncalves (Paris)
  • Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists, and Managers - Australia

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In Europe, unions are planning a number of actions, including solidarity strikes. In the United States, Alliance@IBM members and co-workers will join in the following activities:

  • Wearing black and blue to signify the pain caused by job cuts.
  • Taking a 10 minute “silent” break nationwide beginning at 1 pm EDT.
  • Calls from retirees to IBM chief executive officer Sam Palmisano, asking for support for employee and retiree concerns.
  • E-mails and other communications from spouses of terminated employees to Palmisano detailing the effect that the job loss has had on their family.

Worldwide updates on the Day of Action will be available at www.allianceibm.org

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