Position Papers: IBM garners dubious distinction — and Douglas award

December 5, 2004

IBM, the state's largest private employer, received two environmental awards last week.

Trouble is, one lauded the Essex Junction plant's pollution control prowess while the other lamented its penchant to pollute.

On Wednesday, the Toxics Action Center bestowed one of its 2004 Dirty Dozen awards on the employer of nearly 6,000 people, claiming that it was one of New England's top polluters because of excessive discharge of heavy metals that requires "immediate action by industry and/or government officials."

A day later, the Douglas administration cited IBM for "environmental excellence in pollution prevention" for its efforts in reducing the use of dangerous chemicals and their release into the nearby Winooski River.

"Clearly there's only one award there that really matters," said Jeff Couture, IBM's Vermont spokesman. In case there's any confusion as to which one, he quickly added that "we are quite pleased with the award from the governor."

The governor's award honors "the foresight and actions taken by Vermonters who contribute to the protection of Vermont's environment, the safety of its citizens and the health of its economy," according to a statement announcing the awards. "Award recipients … all used innovative approaches to enhance the quality of Vermont's environment, build healthier and safer communities and help the state move toward a more environmentally sustainable economy."

Which is pretty much the exact opposite of how Toxics Action Center saw it.

"IBM is not adequately protecting their employees who are working with dangerous solvents and toxic chemicals," said the center's announcement of its award. "IBM does not provide safety training for employees, nor a full disclosure of the health risks associated with the toxic chemicals."

Leading the Toxics Action Center charge is the Alliance@IBM, a group which claims to be "an alternative union that represents all United States IBM employees."

"IBM is acting as a bad corporate citizen," said Earl Mongeon, an alliance member and an IBM worker. "It's time IBM takes responsibility for workers' safety."

It is a course of action Couture said was long underway and is an integral part of the way IBM does business.

"What that group said is really inaccurate and unfounded," the IBM spokesman said. He said a group of researchers from Harvard University and the University of Alabama studied three of the company's plants – including Essex Junction – for evidence of cancer-causing chemicals and how they impacted the workforce.

"They found that, for Essex Junction, the incidence of cancer was lower than in the general population," Couture said. As to safety training, the plant last year provided 500 classes attended by nearly 5,000 employees. "It is a far-reaching effort."