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Heard on the Grapevine
About
this information:
The following is from
our several anonymous sources in IBM, *however*,
please keep in mind that management can change direction at any time,
and some or all of these may never happen, or happen in some permutation.
We do not like to spread rumors, however, it's good to be prepared for
anything.
Remember, if we had
a contract, we would know the facts ahead of time and work with management
to ease the impacts to employees and work out a fair deal for all. Union
contracts would go with any group of employees that are "sold"
to another company. Please join
the Alliance and help us work toward that much-needed contract.
October 1, 2002
- IGS Application
Management Services group in the US is proceeding with a study to move
60-80% of its work to India, Mexico and Belarus beginning in 2003. This
is decision is being made by the IBM Controller (R Woods) and Carolyn
Maher, VP of IGS. This will eliminate 1000's of jobs in the USA. A large
layoff in the US will result.
June 21, 2002
- This is some news
I heard today from a source who has always been reliable in the past.
In early fall (around Sept) up to 80% of Tivoli IT will be fired. IGS
will assume their duties. Chances to get a transfer into IGS from Tivoli
IT are SLIM and NONE.
Second bit of news, right at the end of the year Tivoli Development
will have its second annual Christmas layoff. Massive cuts are expected
for Tivoli Development; estimates are up to 30%.
It seems that Big Blue isn't done with their Big Cuts.
- MicroElectronics
Division is expected to let their workers know if their jobs are cut
on Wednesday June 5
- IGS layoffs are
rumored to be scheduled for Wednesday, May 29 - that one came true.
- The Hitachi deal
seems to be going through in spite of some executive concerns.
- IBM executive decision
makers are in disarray about the layoffs. Things keep changing rapidly.
One day one group is put on the chopping block, the next day it gets
saved, then another goes on the block. There is a lot of stress among
the lower management ranks.
- The TG announcement
is expected around 6/11.
- The layoff roll-out
is just beginning. Look for 10% over the entire company world-wide,
with some units (within BIS, TG) facing up to 30%, some only 2%, like
SWG. The US will bear the brunt of the cuts, since the US is the easiest
country to fire people from. (NOTE! IBM in other countries is generally
unionized and the country laws are often stronger to protect workers).
See the list of some IBM unions in other countries.
- FACT: If IBM does
tell the press any layoff percentages, they will use a world-wide percentage,
not a U.S. one, obscuring the true impact to US employees.
- A proposal is on
the table for a joint venture spinoff, possibly made up of about 2-4
companies (we're guessing Sanmina, SCEI, Samsung, Toshiba or Hitachi).
IBM employees would be essentially the IBM side of the "investment"
of the new spinoff. The plant would not be closed by IBM, however they
would lease it to the new venture. The new venture would then do the
the dirty work of the layoffs. IBM would look OK and not have lied to
anyone! Then, there could be a new organization out of this, emphasizing
services from a TG perspective, using the spinoff as a source for manufacturing
and delivery of services work.
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