IBM Workers in Greenville, SC forced into Manpower.
Are You Next?

On April 20th IBM employees of the Annuity Services division at the facility in Greenville, SC were told in a meeting that they would no longer be IBM employees, but contractors for Manpower effective May 1st.

Needless to say the 120 IBM employees were shocked and angry at this unilateral decision by corporate management. Most are veteran employees of legacy companies that have serviced IBM accounts for many years.

According to information received by the Alliance the services affected by this move are:
Mail/imaging/indexing/records
Contact Center
Billing and Collection Processing
New Business Processing
Recon/Treasury/Reinsurance
PCR/Support
Life and Annuity Claims
Policy Administration

If an IBM employee does not choose to move to Manpower their employment is terminated.
Employees are not eligible to move to another position in IBM.
There is no separation pay if you terminate your employment or move to Manpower.
There is no credit for IBM service.
There is a “safety net” for transitioned employees for the first 12 months of Manpower employment.
Employees will no longer be allowed to participate in any IBM club activity.
Employees will not be eligible for IBM’s 2012 GDP bonus.
Employees will not be eligible for the stock grant.
Accrued vacation will be paid
Employees will not be paid for any personal choice holidays not taken.
IBM medical benefits end April 30, 2011.
Coverage of IBM Group Life Insurance ends May31, 2011.
Salary deductions for IBM Health Care Spending Account ceases on the last IBM pay period.

This and other changes have turned the IBM employee’s lives upside down.
Most valued the benefits from IBM and are deeply concerned that Manpower benefits are non-existent.

What is happening to these employees shows how little corporate management values employees.
You are not a person to them; you are a “resource” that can be disposed of at any time.

This also shows what happens when employees are not covered by a union contract.
Everything that just happened to the Greenville employees would have been negotiated with employee input not unilaterally dumped on workers with a take it or leave it outcome.

So will YOU be next? Will you come to work one day and find yourself sold off with no recourse or voice?
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Help build the Alliance so that the next group faces IBM corporate management with a strong union and a contract in hand!

If you are not a member please go to our web site and join today!