Union organizers allege IBM is cutting jobs nationally

According to an alliance of IBM Corp. (IBM) workers for the union organization Alliance@IBM, the technology kingpin is slashing jobs across the country, which includes the possibility that Austin will be affected.
The alliance is affiliated with the Communication Workers of America, and alleges that the Calif.-based IBM uses a “churn and burn” policy towards employees.
Lee Conrad, national organizer for Alliance@IBM, claimed that the organization has received reports from laid-off workers indicating that 160 to 170 jobs have been cut across the U.S. so far with further cuts to be expected. Conrad said some of his information comes from severance packages given to former employees and that the company has made major reductions through the last few years.
“The number of IBM jobs has declined dramatically over the last five years in the U.S.,” said Conrad.
The union said that IBM’s workforce in the U.S. declined from 133,789 in 2005 to 105,000 in 2009 before the company ceased providing a U.S. head count. The alliance also said that IBM’s hiring has shifted to India, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, where a lower-wage workforce is in place. The alliance projects that IBM’s U.S. job total is now below 100,000.
Reports indicate workers have been let go at IBM centers in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., Rochester, Minn., and Atlanta.
The union group warned that Austin is on the chopping block for a reduction in workforce, which it said has already begun. IBM employs more than 6,000 people in Austin, which houses one of the company’s largest research and development centers.
IBM spokesman Doug Shelton refused comment on the situation.
“IBM does not comment publicly on details of its staffing plans or headcount,” said Shelton. “IBM re-balances its skills and resources throughout the year to ensure that we meet the evolving needs of our clients.”
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