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IBM
GDF Worker Network
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GDF Worker Comments
Comment 05/10/12:
From India.
Employees will not get the justice through IBM even though we provide with proof....as
IBM is really least bothered about the "HARRASEMENT AT WORK" AS IT
WILL REMAINS IN WORDS NOT IN ACTION"...AS WE ARE WORKING UNDER LADY TEAM
LEAD CALCUTTA MADHUBANTHI .....every one in team are unhappy about her behavior
...we have filed many complaints on her with proofs and escalted her to manager
, delivery head , and VP ...... no one even tried to read that complaints..........not
even single person is happy about her...but there is no concept of employee
feed back or manager's interference in employee challeges & issues.......As
she used to shout & abuse on everyone in office before all irrespective
of age, gender.....we all are really feeling bad about her......IBM should fire
these people as IBM may loose a good people for the people of no use and for
the people who spoils the reputation.... IBM should take care in order to avoid
the harrasement at work. -Rahul-
Comment
04/29/12: Don't think the GDFs are working? So either embrace
the GDF "send all North American jobs to India, China, Brazil", et.
al. or support the Alliance! Simple. Your choice. But judging on the amount
of people showing solidarity at the the Alliance info. picket sites I guess
the GDF concept is still being accepted and even embraced. Go figure. ...'ever
onward IBM... -trexibmer-
Comment 04/26/12:
Got to love this whole GDF concept. It's been with us now for over 2 years and
we're told raise a defect and our QA will review and resolve the issues we have.
Now after all this time these defects have sat there for these years and it
is now down to the people that raised them to resolve them. Even better it gets
classed as giveback which you have to do as unpaid overtime. -Anonymous-
Comment 04/18/12:
http://www.cringely.com/2012/04/somethings-rotten-in-IBM-dubuque/
-curious-
Comment 04/18/12:
Reply to Comment 03/01/12: Any RAs in the GDFs? -anonymous-
******
I did not see any response to your question. I have worked in
the"Global Delivery Framework" (actually we're not supposed to call
it"GDF" these days I think because too many obvious acronyms can be
appropriately applied). Anyway, we lost our entire department in the last RA
announced end of February/early March; and even our Manager was forced into
retirement (there was nobody left to manage). Supposedly the work our GDF Team
does is going to India; but we have yet to find any one/group with the skill
set to even start the transition. I have sacrificed so much for IBM over the
past several years; including health issues due to stress and irregular sleep
patterns (some times no sleep at all for 3 day periods). And as a (former?)
IBM Reg, I have never been compensated for OT hours even when it has not been
uncommon for me to put in 80 - 100 hours per week since moving into the GDF.
So, there's your answer (I could go on and on) but simply put, "YES"
this last RA hit GDF. I have never considered myself as a "Union Type"
before; but I'm joining the Alliance NOW!! --anonymous in Boulder
GDF--
Alliance reply: Bring
as many IBMers as you can round up, and join the informational picket on April
24th:
Boulder: Diagonal Highway (Rt 119) and Mineral
Road (shoulder) 4pm to 5pm Picket Captain: Jim Askew
Comment
04/11/12: How
can I be on 24x7 on call for Windows server problems and told I can't work any
OT? If I get called on 2nd or 3rd shift or hours outside my normal business
work day I should get compensated. Can we expose this as illegal under current
labor and pay laws? -newGDFgrunt-
Alliance reply: First of all file a complaint with your state department of
labor. Then find out how many others are in the same situation. Contact us at
ibmunionalliance@gmail.com come
for further action.
Comment
04/05/12: -Anonymous
in the Midwest- Wow. Talk about cheap a$$ ruthless penny pinching bastards
IBM. And everyone is lead to believe IBM is supposed to be adding not eliminating
jobs in Dubuque or Columbia since the IBM cost structure is competitive. GDF:
Globally Doubtful Future (for IBM) -GDF_contractor_anonymous-
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: They kicked me out. May be the best
thing that happened to me, (as soon as I find that next job). Knock on wood.
Oh well, I'm 23 and they paid me at $23K a year; I feel in a better position
than the 60 year old IBMers they leave holding the bag and knocking them on
their arse. Wam bam thank you IBM! Wages are low, constant huddles and Green
Team needling is asinine, their pride and joy ISM (Maximo) webapp is DOA about
25% of the time (that's where we're supposed to incessantly record our 'takt
time' and 'touch time' and 'pee break' time), there are 2 restrooms in the whole
place (can't wait to see what it's like when it reaches almost 1000 people by
end of this year - literally 16 stalls for each sex for the whole place). All
this time and effort spent recording time and the time you starting working
on some itsy bitsy thing and the time you stop and 'continuous improvement'
may work when you're putting lug nuts on Corollas but we're knowledge workers,
god damn it. Talk about FLSA violations -- it's quite common for our team to
be paged six times in the wee hours of the morning for LOW tickets! (SLA says
unless the servers are melting down we won't do off-hours work.) Yet we're still
being awakened for it because the client's Help Desk doesn't care. Crap rolls
downhill from them. We cannot OT for these disruptions in our circadian patterns,
instead we are STRONGLY URGED to 'adjust our schedules' by taking off early
so as to avoid OT. Illegal if you ask me. Also, management has prohibited us
from using the word "flex" in our speech, I kid you not, like "yeah,
I got paged out at 3:30 and 4:30 a.m., I'm just going to have to FLEX OUT the
rest of the day" because "lawyers don't like that word." I kept
joking that we can't say "hey, look at that guy FLEXing his muscles"
without getting nastygrams from HR about it. Restrictions on calling things
"flex time" or "on call time" and only allowing time actually
spent in front of a keyboard to be counted as bona fide work is abuse. To put
it another way, if a firefighter is on duty overnight and nothing catches fire
so he's sleeping or playing checkers, does he still get paid? You better believe
it. Not at IBM.
Somebody call '60 Minutes.' I'm afraid if we do sue IBM, they will drop the
lingering appearance of having any U.S. workers whatsoever and just go into
full 'emerging markets' area. This is a race to the bottom and once the emerging
markets realize they are getting shafted, then it's on to the next 'emerging
market' they can get people to work for 15 cents an hour. If you're still there,
unionize. God knows I would, if I still worked there. Also, somebody please
drop a dime on them with the Dep't. of Labor. If these FLSA violations are not
'willful' and thus subject to punitive as well as compensatory damages, then
the word has lost all meaning. Hell, I may just drop the dime myself. It's a
damn shame -- seems IBM used to be a pretty good place to work back before the
MBAs all took over and now it's all EPS all the time. Stop giving updates on
stock price all the time. It creates the illusion that that is all that matters,
wait, I guess that is a reality. -Anonymous in the Midwest-
Comment
03/01/12:
Any RAs in the GDFs? -anonymous-
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
02/21/12: 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: GDF...nothing but waste of time.
Sucks big time, makes us do all unwanted things which are in no ways useful
to anyone, talk against GDF and you are fired!!! -ihateGDF-
Alliance reply: Talking and acting as a group instead
of an individual can be useful to EVERYONE; if you organize and show IBM GDF
that you refuse to take their abuse anymore. Fight back as a group. Join Alliance@IBM
and organize. Grow the numbers of employees that can stand up to IBM. Certainly
NOT a waste of time.
Comment
02/14/12: If you were RAed by IBM and are offered
your old position or another one as a contractor in a GDF; THINK TWICE about
it. IBM will further abuse you. Join the Alliance! -IBMUnionYes-
Alliance reply: Actually we would encourage people to work at the
GDF's and help organize the union.
Comment
02/14/12: Starting to see some testiness between
IBM GDF employees and GR's in China and India. I reckon the RA bug is started
to bite globally. Instead of IBM promoting teamwork they are pitting us all
against each other. Not good for team building and morale. -TeamIBM-
Comment
02/06/12: Greetings from the MDC. Don't get
me wrong, I work with many Indians, Pakistanis, we're all trapped in the Michigan
Delivery Center and many of us are ill. From stress, cancer, high blood pressure,
all the above. At the contract site, almost everyone is an onshore H1B holder
while those of us at the MDC are either US citizens or 20+ year residents. How
much cheaper ARE the offshores? And why is it OK that they get to look at OUR
PHI and PPI?
At the MDC "Utilization" is the criteria we all live
or die by. The Partner is never happy but he seemed to be a little cheerful
when he told us the 2011 Utilization Champion hit 150%. That's 75 weeks worth
of work done in 50, assuming the champeen took all their 10 PTO days off. Let
me tell you this, as a 53 year old, the 440 aprox. hours I did last year was
way more than enough. I love IBM (not). -MIAnonymous-
Comment
02/02/12: Seriously what is the difference between
an IBM contractor and an IBM regular employee? Contractors in the GDFs do everything
an IBM regular employee does. The same is expected of them. Sure seems IBM could
run the GDF with all contractors -GDF_contractor_anonymous-
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 where the cuts are going to come from, somebody has to pay for
these new positions. -CANonymous-
Comment
01/30/12: Got your e-mail in IBM Lotus Notes
Mail about the lowering of the PBCs. It doesn't really apply to me since I'm
a contractor but I think I'll join anyhow as a subscriber! - GDF_contractor_anonymous-
Comment
01/15/12: Anyone told they have to go to Columbia
to keep a GDF job? -wundering-
Comment
01/15/12: Have to repost something off citydata
forums.
Default IBM Dubuque GDF nightmare So peeps, just wanted to hear what all of
the IBMers have to say after making the biggest mistake of their lives by taking
this crappy job and moving to a waste of a town called Dupuke. Reading some
of the BS optimists posts from a year ago only makes me laugh harder at how
wrong you were, and now you know it too. No raises for 98% of the staff, that's
right 98% received nothing in over 2 years, no cost of living, no performance
increases either. Which makes me wonder WTF a PBC is really for? They stress
the importance of completing your PBC all the time, yet do not deliver on rewarding
anyone's work. Oh, the 2% who got increases barely broke 1% increases. Gee,
thanks Big Blue. Total craphole to work in/for.
P.S. Just wanted to send a big ... to all the native Dubuquers who raised their
rental properties when they heard IBM was moving here. The good news is that
IBM wont be staying long and you will lose most of your tenants.
Good luck on the job searching to all the IBMers. We all deserve more than this
pile of crap job. End -manny-
Alliance reply: To the person who sent this, we edited
some of your comments because they were over the line for our web site rules.
Comment
01/01/12: I
have over 15 years of IT work experience. I noticed towards the end of my time
at IBM that they were hiring inexperienced "wannabe IT" people to
work on complex environments. I really feel sorry for these customers. The GDF
model should work but not the way it is being implemented. People are being
treated poorly, hours are being cut, there is no OT but the workload is high.
They have team leads who have no clue and managers who do not care. There is
so much waste in time and resources. I love little Dubuque but I am glad to
be out of IBM. I would have wanted to grow my career at IBM but piss poor treatment
of employees just drove me out. -anonymous-
Alliance Reply: Your example is still another reason why IBMers and
IBM contractors must organize.
Comment
12/23/11: I work as a contractor in Dubuque.
I am on-call for 12/26 which is an IBM Holiday. IBM employees get paid holidays;
I do not. So I have to wait by the 'phone on the company holiday and don't get
paid unless the 'phone rings..and then my holiday plans might have to be changed.
I understand being a contractor means no work = no pay but why do contractors
get no standby pay when IBMers do? -Standingby-
Alliance Reply: Your example is yet another reason why IBMers and
IBM contractors must organize. No "standby" pay? Of course not. IBM
treats the contractors more despicably than IBMers...and that's pretty bad when
you consider how badly IBMers are treated. IBM does what it wants, follows its
own rules or ignores its own rules when ever IBM pleases. Without a union contract
for contractors and IBMers, alike, there will continue to be no 'standby pay'
or anything else that you really do deserve....including holidays.
Comment
12/22/11: I couldn't take the furlough mandated
by IBM this week or next. I have to be coverage for IBM regulars who were out
on vacation for this week and next. There are fewer and fewer regular employees
this year than year's past. At least IBM employees still get some vacation time
in before Scrooge Sam closes the door on 2011. Ginny the Grinch will be handling
2012. -anonymous-
Comment
12/18/11: Well, GDF wave 2011.2 is completed
in Canada. The GDF implementation team is moving on to the next wave. By “completed”
I mean that their checklists are completed, what has been done is far from complete.
Tons of things are not really in place, processes are incomplete, or inapplicable.
People are style wondering in which way this is an improvement, all they see
is more red tape before being able to do actual technical work. But no worries,
project “Malle” is going to solve all problems… Project Malle
being a executive driven project to reorganize first line management along the
line of delivery, profile holders, etc. Not very well defined yet from what
I hear, but first lines managers are not happy. I brings in more problems than
it solves. -Canonymous-
Comment
12/13/11:
So, the Dubuque is losing competent people left and right, HR's solution? Pay
new people more than those that have been here 2 years. If you want to get oodles
more people to join the union, get the statistics on incoming worker pay vs
those that have been here from the start. Iowa sentiment is mostly anti union
and comparing to other centers doesn't work because cost of living and band
levels are difference, but comparing new and old will get tons of people wanting
to join. -Dubuquer-
Comment
12/01/11:
-James- I think "full time work" is anything over 20 hours
a week. So it is probably legal, but ethical? The issue is whether Artech is
intentionally deceiving those contractors it takes on for IBM client about not
telling them of possible furloughs. What I would like to see is those forced
to take a furlough should at least get unemployment benefits. IBM and/or Artech
is denying employment during the furlough. -anonymous-
Comment
12/01/11: Does IBM employees
get standby pay for on-call off shift coverage and contractors don't get it?
If this is the case then why should GDF contractors be on-call in the first
place if they are compensated totally different? -anonymous-
Comment
11/30/11: Artech Information
Systems is a recruiting agency for IBM. Over the past few years Artech has continued
to hire new contract employees for positions with IBM Global Services Division
under the pretense of being a full time contract employee knowing that IBM is
going to be giving these same employees furlough day's as they have been for
the last few years. Artech does not inform prospective employees about the furlough
days in advance as it may cause people to not accept a position that will not
be full time 40hr work week. Is it legal to hire someone for a full time 40hr
per week position knowing they will be given furlough days and not be working
40hr work weeks. Could this be grounds for a class action law suit?
-James-
Comment
11/29/11: IBM still plays
the contracting game in the GDF as fast and loose as possible. Doesn't it seem
there is very little distinction or difference between a GDF employee and contractor?
A contractor is NOT AN IBM EMPLOYEE and thus should not be told to do HR tasks
like fudge OT or work hours by their IBM supervisor (the contractor's MANAGER
is from the contracting company). I doubt the contracting company manager tells
the GDF contractor to lie on the timesheet or ILC (labor claim system). It's
time to stop playing the game and expose IBM on the OT hours shell games they
ask contractors to play. It's not right to ship labor costs from week to week-to-week,
month-to-month, quarter-to quarter just to unethically enrich the IBM corporation's
bottom line. No wonder IBM changed the wording a little bit back on the ILC
invocation preamble. They are denying the abuse and are doing damage control.
But no one calls them out on it as an FLSA abuser. -also_Dubuqued-
Comment
11/28/11: 2015 is the
year I think all US based GDF's will be gone. How do you think IBM is going
to continue to increase their ever increasing lofty almighty EPS target which
they probably now want to hit $25 per share so Ginnie can get a$ rich a$ Sam
who got as rich or more than Lou? You either suck up big pay cuts (like maybe
work for close to free) and give up all your remaining employee benefits or
you'll find yourself soon gone. You folks have little time left. Unless you
fight the good fight and stand up for your right. Unionize now! -Jammin'
Man-
Comment
11/21/11: All is true
about the postings here with the GDC. Low wages, working every day, and my thing
is I asked for help on my accounts and never got it. Ridiculous management excuses
and lots of pressure from the customers with little help from management...No
way to run a business. I am so happy to land another job outside of IBM GDC
failure. Godspeed to those left. -Dubuqued2-
Comment
11/11/11: Was anyone let
go on Nov. 1st? -anonymous-
Comment
11/07/11: "Hello,
I would like to join the alliance union, is there a way i can send my dues in
monthly?" Just click on "About Membership" menu tab
in this comments sections or click here:
https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4004/donate_page/alliance-join ....Welcome!
-IBM Union Yes!-
Comment
11/02/11: Hello, I would
like to join the alliance union, is there a way I can send my dues in monthly?
I need a address or something. GDC's are suffering big time with this AWS and
and low salaries, I observe many of the inhabitants especially GDC Dubuque are
struggling just to pay basic bills. There is a no OT throughout the entire facility,
moral is low, just about everyday there is negativity amongst team members,
managers and you hear nothing but the same on the elevators. Someone from headquarters
seriously needs to visit IBM Dubuque. Lots of folks walkout with no jobs, or
just pissed off on how they are treated like animals or children, personal HR
information is discussed amongst "leadership teams" and its not right.
Folks ain't got a cost of living increase mostly when discussed in roundtables
the actual words from a senior second level manager was to "be happy you
have a job". IBM Dubuque HR recruiting is using the economy to get what
ever they can into support. Turn over is at a all time high. When asked about
career development the common practice is your promotion is with another company
and not in IBM. Mobility is not encouraged at all. Many have 2 yrs or more in
with the new center. Do a survey at the dubuque Delivery center. I have a ton
of more stuff that you would be shocked is going on. -Anonymous-
Comment
10/22/11: Timing Tool
= RA tool –einstein-
Comment
10/17/11: Are we having
fun yet using the Timing Tool? Not! 3 weeks of hell tracking all the work you
do to ensure you’re “following the GDF processes to be productive.”
Blah-blah. Talk about an un-productive time-waster. Towelin’ off, boss…drinkin’
water, boss. Spy-ware to screw us. What professionals have to do this non-sense?!
Morale teams and monthly recognition awards – rah-rah with no money. Enough
silliness and stress. Time to organize. Join the Alliance. Occupy GDF. Do something!
–GetItDone-
Comment
10/13/11: There is no
downside to joining the alliance. I'm glad we have some members who are highly
visible, and good organizers, but I can state without a doubt that if you want
to remain anonymous, you can certainly do that. I was worried about being targeted
by management, but joined anyway because they have been offshoring my group
so I had nothing to lose. Two years later I'm still anonymous. It's completely
confidential, and now I have proof. Join up, folks. Now's the time. (And remember...never
access the alliance website from your work laptop.) -Anon-
Comment
10/12/11: Worked hard,
even missed a vacation due to a project that needed to be done. Earned a raise
that not only was less than cost of living adjustment, but was less than the
amount I lost on canceled plane tickets. I should have called in sick.
-Dubuquer-
Comment
10/07/11: Furlough rumors
for contractors in this QTR heard in EF GDF. -anonymous-
Comment
10/07/11: So much for
IBM following FLSA law. If you are supposed to be on-call and available for
work after normal business hours as an hourly employee you have to be entitled
to at least some form of $ for your labor. For IBM to say to only claim 40 hours
work and denying OT and offer the lame alternative to take comp time is at least
borderline illegal if it is not illegal in the first place! This is why
we need a union.
-Dubuked-
Comment
10/05/11: I'm new to the
GDF. The question I have is how can IBM say I have to take and work on problem
tickets after normal work hours, only work 40 hours a week, and I can't work
and submit OT. If I get more problem tickets after hours than I can handle how
can I still do it in 40 hours? My manager says 'I need to budget my time better'
and 'work smarter' with no further elaboration or specifics on how it can be
done. I guess most employees must have figured out how to do this without a
union contract so can you fill me in on the 'secret'? -anonymous-
Alliance Reply: Why struggle to learn the 'secret'? Why not struggle to get
a union contract? That is a struggle that you don't have to do alone, and it
will turn out much better for you.
Comment
10/03/11: GDF's Canadian
wave moving along swiftly with fixed implementation dates.
Something will be implemented, but what? The GDF processes that are provided
are for a minimum of 25 people with a target of 50. Current wave targeted teams
are a mix bag of 5 to 10 peoples. Does it make a difference? no. GDF processes
will be applied as is, whatever the consequences. And the funny thing is that
for some teams there are more GDF roles (dispatcher, etc.) than there are people
in the team. Also, these small teams, with nothing in common, are being moved
to the same floor to be part of the GDF. What's the benefit of grouping them?,
none. You can bet that some exec wants a photo op on October 24 when the GDF
centers are opened. -Canonymous-
Comment
10/03/11: Does IBM typically
furlough contractors in the GDFs during the 4th QTR? -Dubuquer-
Comment
9/30/11: I want to know
what gives managers the right to block transfers. If the manager cannot get
me a raise then they should not be able to block me from getting out of this
stinkpot they call Dubuque. To anyone thinking of moving there for a job with
IBM, DO NOT! Any job where you are at now is 10X better, trust me. IBM Dubuque's
managers are completely useless and should all be fired first and foremost.
Then they can give raises to the SA's actually doing the work. Drop the stupid
huddles and Green Team as well. Metrics have no place in Dubuque.
-GDF Loser-
Comment 9/25/11: Rogers,
State of Texas, Astra Zeneca, and a littany of other accounts are leaving IBM.
The GDF concept is fine but the way it was implemented was more in the shareholder's
best interests than the customer or the employee. With little balance on that
triangle, something has to give, and it has. -Anonymous-
Comment 9/05/11: GDF wave 2011.2 in progress in Canada (2011.2
is for the legacy systems). Everybody back in the office 5 days a week starting
October 24th (except people living over 50 miles away), even if you're the only
member of your team at that location (as in Canada Global Delivery Centers are
virtual and located in multiple cities like Toronto, Montreal, etc.)
-Canonymous-
Comment 6/09/11: Two weeks ago, 60 hard working people for
Rogers account got fired at GDF Toronto Canada. US IBM auditors think we are
pricey and want to move more jobs to India. Today, the customer CEO suddenly
announced to replace CIO, and new CIO will bring IT back in-house 100%. What
a shock to the big blue. Rogers-IBM had a 7-year-deal signed in 2009. Just less
two years, Rogers decided to walk away. IBM let experienced FTEs go and is hiring
fresh contractors in Toronto and India. The services delivered to the customer
are so bad that GDF is the worst disaster IT place we ever worked. TD bank and
Sunlife started to bring IT back in-house already.
-LOL-
Comment 12/22/10: Re Dubuque Craigslist
rave - in my opinion, not IBM's, Dubuque is just a red herring set-up to give
the impression that IBM is investing in US workers and infrastructure. You may
only be there as a puppet to demonstrate a handful of US jobs were created.
However the GDF purpose was and is to fool US IBMers and the state and federal
government. When Dubuque GDF was first announced some of us heard certain job
categories would be moving there, such as "admin" activities. However,
I only know of 1 out of 25 of these jobs in my organization really went to Dubuque;
the rest went to unskilled, intern level India, Brazil, Argentina and other
remote country resources instead. As for the GDF plans, moving US regional data
center operations to Dubuque, we saw warnings that US SDC folks would have to
rejoin an existing data center, then later take pay cuts and move at their own
expense to the Dubuque GDF. Well, I saw lay-offs of delivery and data center
friends but I've seen no evidence of a migration of existing skilled delivery
folks going to Dubuque GDF. I expect Dubuque will remain a cheap skeleton of
what a real IBM data center should be. IBM will not invest in you, sorry to
say. If IBM is hiring cheapest overseas labor, not even skilled or even train
them, why would they invest in a more expensive US resource?
-Whoopee-
Comment 9/22/10: Told last week that IBM is setting up GDFs
in Calgary, and Montreal in addition to existing one in Toronto. Satellite ones
in Edmonton and Winnipeg. People to start moving in on Oct 18. Soon all employees
in these cities will be in GDF. No more working from home. Contractors initially
then the remaining employees. If outside 80KM radius you are exempt. This would
appear to be the precursor for more staff cuts. GDF being implemented on a number
of accounts, once people are up to speed on multiple accounts there will be
more staff cuts. Time table for various groupings of accounts to be GDF model
already in place
-anonymous-
Comment 9/15/10: Got to talk to a
couple of people on the State of Texas account telling us during a meet up about
how badly IBM Screwed up including asking any and all for 35% cuts in hours
and pay on acct to having Arch's working 30-40 jobs at one time and all with
one week turnarounds including cutting more PM's and sending all possible work
to Dubuque GDF. Fun part was telling us about the GDF PM's working for less
than 44K a year and one PM Contractor asked to come back at $ 22 a hr after
working for $ 44 a hr before being RA'd. IBM said to cut more over next couple
of months on the account as SoT starts talking to DELL and HP mostly to get
other work done away from IBM, way to go for screwing up an account.
-anon-
Comment 7/16/10: I lost my job in
ITD at the Boulder campus last month. Despite a lot of sensible resistance by
employees against the GDF mess, the company simply doesn't care about employee
mistreatment. They're hell bent on destroying services entirely, losing their
few remaining customers, and turning the company into little more than a 3rd
world body shop. I don't know about the other GDF locations, but IBM Boulder
continues to get rid of fulltime technical people on a quarterly basis. The
company then plugs IBM Bangalore resources into these same positions...right
here, on our US own soil. The company is beyond a disgrace at this point, and
I'm happy to be out of there.
-Anonymous-
Comment 4/19/10: IBM Long Term Supplemental
Role in East Lansing, MI: (Current Employee) "Disappointing and discouraging."
Pros: Decent health insurance (if you pay for the step-up plan.) Well known
company. Access to all documentation. Access to self-paced training on a variety
of topics. Cons: Low salaries in comparison to the market. Employees are micromanaged.
Experienced professionals are treated like children. Attendance is taken. Employees
(might) have one square yard of work space in the office. Employees are discouraged
from working from home, even when their clients request it. Long term supplemental
employees are not allowed to post for "regular" jobs for 18 months
from when they were hired. Advice to Senior Management: If you have a problem
that affects the employees (like you need to show bodies in seats to clients
when they visit), ask the people affected for suggestions on solving the problem.
Don't assume that you have all of the answers. People will support you, if you
are interested in their opinion.
-Anon-
If the advocacy work that
Alliance @IBM
is doing, is important to you,
10/17/11.
