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Comment 10/13/08: To workingforblueagain- : You want job cut status? As long as there is no union, job cut status is to continue layoffs until all the jobs are overseas. It's as simple as that. If you are lurking here from time to time just to see if your department is getting hit this month, or if you are safe for a little while so you can sleep tonight, unionize and you'll sleep a lot better. -anonymous-

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Comment 10/12/08: To -Paulie (RA'D 6/07)- Oh, yeah, they are hurtin' now. Sure, it's all relative.But they still call all the shots at the table. They are still mega millionaires and maybe Sam close to a billionaire now. And if we don't UNIONIZE who will pay for the IBM EXECUTIVES losses? I will. YOU WILL! I don't give a crap about Sam. He's pond scum at best. I just care about protecting my fellow IBMers and myself. I can do that with a union contract!!! If you don't join then go with Sam. I'm sure he'll be loyal to you and lavish stock options on you. -anonymous-

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Comment 10/11/08: Many are using this link to vent their frustrations with IBM and it's executives. There is a general comments area of this forum for that. I am interested in job cut status when I visit here. Stay on topic please...used the other topic for general comments. Thanks -workingforblueagain-

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Comment 10/10/08: TO>>>-nobody_at_blue- >>>> Remember that most of the EXECs don't get standard stock options, as the price is controlled for options. Most are now getting RESTRICTED STOCK allocations, for which they pay nothing up to $36. Another EXEC way to bypass the new rules on options. -no_ky-

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Comment 10/10/08: To: Paulie (RA'D 6/07) They aren't hurting as much as you think. Check out what kind of stock $$ the big wigs cashed in over the past months:http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=IBM Before the rumors fly, just remember that CEO or not, financial logic says to not keep that much money tied up in a single stock, so it's really not a surprise they cashed in those stocks and options. If you're hateful, just assume they sunk it into some other stock that took a major hit. But I can't seem them hurting all looking at some of those figures. -nobody_at_blue-

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Comment 10/10/08: I am sure there are many of us who would like to punch Sam. Let me word that differently. Many of us would like to beat the crap out of Sam. The best way to get back at companies like big blow, is to unionize, so they can't treat us like scum. That would give execs a kick in the Ass. -Punching_Sam-

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Comment 10/10/08: Anonymous brings up an excellent point. IBM (especially under Gerstner) reported 'Vapor Profits' in order to manipulate earnings (and bonuses). Now that the market has tanked, would they not legitmately have to report the losses too ? I think everyone should query the Congressmen and apply as much heat as possible. -John-

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Comment 10/09/08: Say what you will about the stock, the EXECS HAVE TO BE HURTING. No way, does the stock drop below 90 without it Hurting the BIG BOYS! GOOD!!, Dam Fine! Chickens are coming home to ROOST. Randy, Sam and the entire gang of THIEVES are Watching part of their FORTUNES DISSAPEAR., and I could not be HAPPIER FOR THEM!!!!!!!!! How does it feel boys, to have your future\wealth go up in SMOKE.. I am GLOATING!! -Paulie (RA'D 6/07)-

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Comment 10/09/08: Hmmm .... and what does this mean? See the article below; I think it's part of the steps they will take to shed MD: Ultratech Inc., a supplier of lithography and laser-processing systems used to manufacture semiconductor devices, said Thursday it acquired the rights to a collection of patents from International Business Machines Corp. San Jose-based Ultratech (NASDAQ:UTEK) said the portfolio represents both U.S. and foreign patents and includes hardware for thermal processing of semiconductor wafers, as well as patents for temperature control and metrology. "This acquisition strengthens and broadens Ultratech's annealing technology capability for ultra-shallow junction formation -- a critical step in semiconductor manufacturing," the company said. -Selling the Farm-

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Comment 10/09/08: IBM will continue to make their numbers because of the huge stock buy-backs, acquisitions, and favorable currency exchange rates converting back to dollars. The stock buy-backs artificially bring up Earnings per Share and the Acquisitions artificially bring up revenues. Remember recently IBM earmarked 15 billion dollars twice in a 10 month period to allow a total of 30 billion in stock buy backs. Unfortunately there is not a measurement such as Same Store Sales as in retail to see what IBM's real year to year performance is without the spin. In the past IBM showed gains from funds held within employee retirement programs as part of their operating profit. Will they be showing the losses if these holdings lost money? Finally the currency exchange is not as favorable as it was. It was recently 1.60 Euros to a dollar. Now it is about 1.36 Euros to the dollar. IBM executives know they did not really make their objectives despite the spin provided to the public so they will cut costs through layoffs. The problem with massive layoffs to meet the next quarter earning objectives is the jobs do not go away, just the experienced IBM employees. These talented IBM employees that are let go do not come back. There experience and skills leave with them. New hires take many months to get up to speed and when they do, there are more layoffs and the cycle starts again. This lowers IBM employee moral and real productivity with a significant portion of new hires going through massive learning curves. IBM customers do not want to pay high rates to provide IBM employees on-the-job training. -Anonymous-

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Comment 10/08/08: EOD Wednesday, 10/08/08: IBM affirms outlook, shares rise in late trading:

By John Letzing, MarketWatch
Last update: 6:49 p.m. EDT Oct. 8, 2008Comments: 10SAN FRANCISCO
(MarketWatch) -- IBM Corp., bucking the global panic that has gripped markets and technology shares, surprised Wall Street Wednesday evening by releasing its earnings early, reporting a 20% gain in net income, and reaffirming its forecast for the year. IBM (IBM:International Business Machines News, chart, profile, more (Last: 90.55-5.10-5.33% 4:00pm 10/08/2008 Delayed quote dataAdd to portfolio Analyst Create alertInsider Discuss Financials Sponsored by: IBM 90.55, -5.10, -5.3%) said its third-quarter net income grew to $2.8 billion, or $2.05 a share, while revenue rose 5% to $25.3 billion compared to the same period a year earlier. For the full year, IBM reaffirmed its earnings target of at least $8.75 a share, an increase of 22% over the prior period. "We remain confident in our full-year outlook," IBM Chief Executive Samuel Palmisano said in a prepared statement. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research expected third-quarter earnings of $2.01 a share on revenue of $26.5 billion, and earnings of $8.74 a share for the full year. Shares of IBM rose more than 3% in late trading following the earnings announcement, to $94.02. The shares had fared relatively well throughout the turmoil in financial markets during recent months but began to tank last week along with the Nasdaq as nervous investors ditched technology shares amid concern about the slowing economy. Palmisano cited "a steady base of recurring revenue and profits, investments for growth in emerging markets, a range of products and services that deliver value to clients, and a strong and flexible financial foundation." The Armonk, New York-based company said it will provide more detailed financial results later. IBM was expected to post its quarterly results next Thursday. Concerns have mounted over IBM's prospects recently, as many of its business customers are expected to cut back amid the ongoing credit crisis. See related story. Some analysts had even suggested the company might issue a warning about its third-quarter results prior to their scheduled release, rather than a positive affirmation for the full year. John Letzing is a MarketWatch reporter based in San Francisco.
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Hmmmm... why isn't "screwing employees" cited as a reason for positive earnings outlook? Oh, yes, that's right.. they aren't "employees"... they are RESOURCES! I get it now. -Mistressofthei5-

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Comment 10/08/08: Maybe this won't be funny for everyone, but it was funny for me! I'm just wondering how long it will take, and I personally don't think it will take too long, for others who have been trampled by this kind of scum to do something similar. Heh heh... CNBC Confirms Lehman CEO Punched at Gym Network verifies reports Richard Fuld was attacked for financial institution's bankruptcy.
By Jeff Poor
Business & Media Institute
10/6/2008 3:59:29 PM
It seems anxiety from the financial crisis is reaching new highs, but the tipping point for one individual came at the Lehman Brothers gym in the midst of the company’s collapse. While former Lehman CEO Richard Fuld was testifying before the House Oversight Committee Oct. 6, CNBC reported he had been punched in the face at the Lehman Brothers gym after it was announced the firm was going bankrupt. CNBC and Vanity Fair contributor Vicki Ward said Fuld was attacked at the gym on a Sunday following the bankruptcy. “Frankly, I sat there and listened and I’m with the guy who apparently, the day before Barclays announced they were coming in and Lehman had already filed for bankruptcy, went over to him in the gym and punched him because that’s how I feel when I, you know, when I watched that,” Ward said on the Oct. 6 “Power Lunch.” “I didn’t think he was contrite at all, I thought he was arrogant.” Ward confirmed previous reports about the incident that reportedly occurred Sept. 21 and said the information came from “two very senior sources.” “From two very senior sources – one incredibly senior source – that he went to the gym after … Lehman was announced as going under. He was on a treadmill with a heart monitor on. Someone was in the corner, pumping iron and he walked over and he knocked him out cold. And frankly after having watched this, I’d have done the same too.” Ward determined Fuld deserved the beating based on his testimony before the committee. “I thought he was shameless,” Ward said. “I thought it was appalling. He blamed everyone. He blamed, as you say, ‘naked short sellers’ over and over in case we didn’t get the point, when in fact hedge funds like Harbinger had money locked up in Lehman and was shorting it to try and make the most of the money that they already had. He blamed everybody but himself.” Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy in September 2008 and its assets were later snatched up by the British bank Barclays for $1.35 billion, which included Lehman’s Midtown Manhattan office tower with a $960 million price tag.
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Hope a few other execs get a little of the same. It is much less than they really deserve. -anon-

Alliance reply: While violence may be entertaining and seem justified; it is not the action that needs to be taken. Many companies that have filed for a piece of the $700B "bailout" have treated their employees poorly, by laying them off and worse. It's a good bet that many, if not all, were not employed with a union contract. The right strategy is to organize your co-workers and make the company come to the bargaining table. Violence begets violence; collective bargaining can beget a contract. Stand together, organize.

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Comment 10/08/08: The lawsuit on executive compensation is a suggestion only unfortunately - I'm hoping that the Feds will not only investigate banks but also other companies -Anonymous-

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Comment 10/07/08: Employees really disheartened at BTV. 700 employees to be layed off in November is what I've heard. No one is working. Everyone is waiting to be tapped. What a crap company IBM has become. We should have had a Union years ago to protect our jobs. :-( -I.C. Butts-

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Comment 10/07/08: Lawsuit to demand Executive Compensation reviews and cuts, before any further RA's -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: Is this a suggestion or an actual filing in process? Please clarify.

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Comment 10/07/08: To use nautical jargon; when seeing a storm of the magnitude we're seeing now, the old IBM would batten down the hatches and try to get through intact. The goal would be to come out of the downturn positioned to grow quickly and strongly when things turned upward. The new IBM will probably just start throwing things overboard, anything and everything that's not nailed down (by the way, panic is not a strategy). The sad part is that it probably won't make any difference. IBM's stock will rise and fall mostly due to the larger economic conditions and what investors guess the impact will be on IBM. Anything (or anyone) we jettison now is wasted, because it won't make the stock go up, it'll just make us weaker and less well positioned when the economy turns upward. IBM will lay off thousands and it won't make any difference, except to the people who get tossed out the door into a crumbling economy. By the way, one of my long time questions is just how many people total has IBM laid off since 1993? Have we churned the entire US workforce yet (i.e. laid off as many people as we have working now)? -BTV'er-

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Comment 10/06/08: Ben Dover ... I'm hearing BTV will be ghost town .... huge cuts coming before the hoildays -GhostTown-

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Comment 10/06/08: I heard there is going to be a big layoff mid November.. Has anyone heard the same? -Ben Dover-

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Comment 10/06/08: IBM UC'd & Goat Rodeo Clown - How is new business being signed and GR'd without the Graco/Sarm Risk Review in place? New work can't be GR'd without the Teams in place and most of them should already have approved RRs for the work. This is auditable and Graco should know about it if you have proof that new business is transitioned overseas without approvals in place. As for Goat's comments about the stock market and not investing in IBM - I'm not a stock market genius but I think that most folks invest in IBM long term and will wait for things to rebound. When we choose what to invest in, most of us little guys are looking for things that retain their value over time, not just overnight. With retirement 25 years in my future (if I'm lucky) I'm not about to ditch all my IBM stock because there are idiots running the show right this moment. Eventually there will be new idiots running a new show and, with luck, I will still be here plugging along and watching my tiny investment slowly grow despite many ups and downs over time. The bigtime wall st investors don't care if a$$holes run the show today or tomorrow as long as they can keep playing the game. You say that long term investors would ditch IBM stock if only they knew how greedy our brass is? I don't think so. I think they know it and don't care as long as they can keep playing their games too. -FreedomIsHard-

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Comment 10/06/08: AS mentioned numerous times in the past, IBM is going to gut the 08A family. This is in addition to the SE's. I am glad to be gone, but feel for my fellow I BM'ers. Cringley was correct on his statement. PLEASE do not doubt that. I think you can all see the writing now that JCS and Sam - Team have continued to gut the teams. The BOTTOM LINE is IBM is not cost competitive against TCS (Tata) and the other off shore companies. They are orders of magnitude cheaper than IBM. You will continue to see IBM slash jobs. There will not be back fill from US contractors, but will backfill with GR folks. IBM will push for the centers of excellence in fishkill and bolder. You will be offered a job there and if you refuse, no severance. BTW, your move is on you. They will gut ibm resources in North America (Canada as well) down to a skeleton staff. The sad part is that most clients are open to off shore resources due to the cost savings. What we all need is a goverment that doesnt encourage off shoring.. stop the tax breaks. Its going to get darker before we see any light on this. Dont leave ibm until you get an offer/package, but that is a personal choice. Keep your eyes open for opportunities and dont count on ibm to change.. it never will, the good days are gone. -ExIBM'er-

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Comment 10/06/08: With the current economic climate, I do not see how IBM will be able to meet Wall St's earning expectations in the 4th quarter. Financial institutions are hard-hit, and they are major customers of IBM's hardware and software. So, watch out for more job cuts, as our greedy executives will do whatever they can to dress up the numbers. IBM will cut its way to profits. -Anonymous-

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Comment 10/05/08: Just heard from a friend in SWG that a bunch of 1st line managers were told to find new jobs within 30 days or take the severance package. They have until October 31st. -miss understanding-

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Comment 10/05/08: Anyone know what severance pay is right now for those that have been RA'd? Are people getting 3 months, 6 months or nothing (assuming at least 13 years of service)? -Anonymous-

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Comment 10/03/08: Lots of full time regs in manufacturing in Rochester being asked about going part time. Rumors of layoffs and/or forced to a part time/non-standard work schedule. Time will tell.......... -homerJ-

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Comment 10/03/08: -a_saved_one- Just curiosity. When you leave on your term, will you still have any benefit (e.g., health insurance) for a grace period or they terminate that right on the day you leave? -No_IBM-

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Comment 10/03/08: The unfortunate truth about IBM is that this once great company is going down hill very fast. Employee morale on my team is the lowest I've ever seen. It's apparent that it's not a question of if, but when each one of us will get the axe. IBM wants to eventually shed every American employee from its payrolls that it can to cut labor costs. That's something that we already know. But their weakness in executing this plan is that they want, even need to do it on their own timetable. Attrition rates from employees finding other positions outside of IBM are starting to climb, and the ones leaving now are the talented individuals with the prized and marketable skills. It's very apparent to our customers and our fellow colleagues that IBM's ability to deliver for its customers is being adversely impacted. Everyone sees it. Everyone knows it. Each account is the same - there are too many projects to be completed and no longer enough qualified personnel to work on completing them. The skill sets needed are literally walking out the door to IBM's competitors each and every day. The good advice someone gave me once in my BOV (Becoming One Voice) class when I joined IBM was to keep yourself marketable, and search for another job while you still have a job. Everyone on here should be putting their resumes on Monster and CareerBuilder to see for themselves the various job opportunities and the real pay scales that currently exist outside this Blue Hell Hole. IBM's current state is directly related to the culture of greed and avarice that is causing the Wall Street meltdown. Of course, we know this already. However, I struggle with the fact that I am witnessing the acts of greed by the executives of this company and feel powerless to do anything about it. I ask myself, "Am I the only one that sees what is going on?" Regarding the comments posted by IBM UC'd, deception toward the customer is one thing, but if IBM is knowingly in breach of contract then something should be done. Granted, a simple breach of contract is a civil matter, but if there are laws that stipulate non-US labor can't be used on certain accounts due to regulatory requirements and those laws are being broken, doesn't that make us an accessory to the crime? Who can we report this to so that an investigation can be considered? The US Attorney's office? If I had solid documentation that laws were being broken, I would personally report them, if only I knew where to report them! The most egregious violation of stockholder trust being committed is the manner in which new business is being signed. Contracts are being signed with customers that have outrageous financial penalties due to missed SLA targets. The SLA's are so ridiculous that it has the effect of generating a monthly annuity stream of income back to the customer. It makes me suspect that both parties involved are somehow cooking their accounting books. Profitability is not the objective with the IBM executives above me. Their directive for one high-profile account is to get the signature on the contract "at all cost." Labor and pricing models are being thrown to the wind, and the profitability of the deal is uncertain. They couldn't care less. Now, why would IBM sign a $1B contract with a customer if it's going to lose money? The motive circles back to that of the current issue of greed on Wall Street. By winning the doomed contract, IBM can issue a press release that it signed a contract with a huge customer. The news sounds good to investors and the stock price goes up. The execs cash
out their vested options for more money due to higher stock prices inflated by nothing less than deception. They won't be here in 5 or 10 years, so why should they care if IBM remains solvent? Their short-term profits will be invested safely elsewhere. Is it illegal? Probably not. However, due to the current environment on Wall Street shouldn't the investors be somehow made aware of the level of greed and incompetence in our executive ranks? Long-term investors and mutual fund managers would be quick to divest IBM from their portfolios if they knew this level of self-serving greed is taking place inside IBM. These execs are slowly destroying this company by looking quarter to quarter. How badly would the economy be impacted if IBM were to fail? How can so many of the unprofitable customer accounts that we currently have be hidden in the accounting ledgers? How is IBM accounting hiding all of these losses? I have no doubt that in 5 years IBM will wind up like Enron, or at the very least its individual divisions will be spun off and sold. Just like the networking division was sold to AT&T. Good luck to us all... -Goat Rodeo Clown-

Alliance reply: We have already sent the information about possible Sarbanes Oxley violations to some people for possible action.

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Comment 10/03/08: I'm on a meeting now that describes how the new 6 India people on our team will be displacing 6 US team members. This will be taking place in mid-November or so. -Wellpoint-US-grunt-

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Comment 10/03/08: IBM is in a big move to show figures before the 16th when the reports go out to stockholders; and looking for anything to scramble cut, even if tactically necessary for completion. Two full time PM's had to be let go for a part time (32 hr a week PM from Bangalore) and to cover up the fact that some replacements from India on Sametime are having their addresses changed to local data centers (Boulder, Denver, St Louis, Lexington, Schaumberg) instead of India so as the clients won't panic. Many of these client facing accounts have explicit instructions never to be offshored due to Sarbanes Oxley, HIPPA, USC 16 laws (credit protection laws including FDCRA) and even on several accounts with HS (Homeland Security) and even NSA out of Ft. Meade as well as other State (Penn, CA, MN and TX as well as GA big time) and many Federal accounts. PO's for servers are being sent out as secondhand units often with parts missing (RSA cards, etc.) to fill LPAR requests. Yet this is being done for quick cash infusion and could cause big problems. They are talking about rehiring back in January-March, but getting people back as contractors at a MUCH lower rate. I figured you would like the news from the inside. -IBM UC'd-

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Comment 10/02/08: Latest news is that after the PM's and contractors were released last month is that a really bright idea came from a level 4 exec to change ST addresses on people out of India to datacenter locations so that they wont get problems with contracts that require no overseas work (SARBANES OXLEY/HIPPA). They did it, start noticing people based in Boulder, St Louis and Lexington with really long names are really in Bangalore. Start noticing that this is a trend more and more - GUESS WHY!?!?!? -IBM'r under cover-

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Comment 10/02/08: Yep, India is too expensive for this blue pig. That's why even they are not immune from the ravages of IBM's "globalization" . You'll not hear any layoffs in China. Sammy loves kissing commies. That's why Gerstner who was in infacuated with Red China gave him his job. -anonymous-

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Comment 10/01/08: IBM stock price dropped about $6 and change. How is IBM to recover? By cutting more USA jobs of course. When R U folks gonna unionize and protect your jobs? -Anonymous-

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Comment 10/01/08: Some incredibly intelligent manager left a printout of a RA package in a common printer room. Thumbed through it...this RA will be large. The list of impacted employees broken down by Title, Band, etc. (which is standard for the package materials those who are cut will receive) was VERY extensive. I was RA'd in the past - my package printout was probably around 60 pages (2001), but this one is much larger - at least 3X the size of the list. This was a GTS printout - so I am sure it doesn't cover all affected org's. -Anonymous-

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Comment 10/01/08: Rumored large layoff coming to the Rational brand of SWG, too. -irRational-

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Comment 10/01/08: I'm hearing from a VERY good source that IBM India will lay-off 11,000 people ..... yup, you read right, IBM India. Also, albeit smaller, BTV will shrink down to 3800 employees in November and many BEOL operations being moved to Fishkill and Bromont .... and BTV will be focused on some large customers, like Intersil -TheyDoNotCare-

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Comment 10/01/08: To -another IBM serial#- yes, October is the month. Lots of PMs, administrative folks (what's left of them), S/As and other techies slated to get the ax. I hear upwards of a thousand or so. These are just rumors that are floating around in my dept, but you know how
those rumors go. They usually turn out to be correct. Off-shoring is continuing. We're reaching the end of the year, and IGS is behind on
their target of 80 - 85% offshored US workers by years end. -miss understanding-

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Comment 10/01/08: RA notifications today - Some public sector SDMs were impacted. Not getting a good feeling for how widespread it is. -mad that I didn't get the call-

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Comment 10/01/08: If I hear one more time that approving this $700 billion dollar bail-out will keep jobs, I am going to barf. I say let it sink. I am already training my Indian replacements, and considered personal bankruptcy. All the money in the world will not stop greedy corporations from
sending all the jobs overseas. This is something that needs to stop! You see it everyday, don't you. -On Borrowed Time-

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Comment 10/01/08: Rumored IBM pending large scale US layoffs in Global Services. If anyone has info please post. -another IBM serial#-

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Comment 9/30/08: dubious: I agree. Palmisano is a greedy bastard making an OBSCENE amount of money. He skims of the top of every hard working IBMers paycheck. The IBM employees have had ENOUGH of this greed. Your 401K may burn in hell because of the damage greedy bastards like Palmisano have done to the financial market in this country. -had enough-

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Comment 9/29/08: there is a revolution brewing in this country. It is incubating. We all can feel it. I don't sense it as violent; but as a social attack on the greedy, evil. If you evil, greedy, plastic, fat, phony, not too smart, pretentious, selfishly assuming entitled, night of the living dead, spread sheet humping, no clue about day to day, absentee parents, think you will go unpunished, I'll bet my 401k account you burn in hell -dubious-

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Comment 9/28/08: Has there been any progress on the second OT lawsuit? I know that myself and plenty of others didn't sign up for it as we feared our jobs would be impacted. -ExIBM'er-

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Comment 9/28/08: I have heard from multiple 2nd line managers that I still communicate with that the debanding of the SA's has totally backfired! Upper management, in the ivory towers, had ZERO clue to the actual amount of hours that folks were putting in. There is now case after case after case where SA's are making more on OT than their regular checks! I am hearing grumblings from morre than one manager who wants to go back to being a tech, because the pay difference is HUGE! Save those dollars while you can.. IBM assumed this would be a pay decrease. They are now ramping plans to get more folks into the regions centers (Fishkill - Boulder) and off shore ASAP.. The money wont last, but please stick them for what ever you can get! Pay down your debts so when you do get axed, which you will, your in better shape that you are today. Much more grumbling on the PM's I have posted that they would be screwed more than a year ago. This has come to fruition. All 300 of the contractors were axed. They are using freshers from India to do the PM work. These guys are PMI - PMP, but most lack common IT experience (Picture the paper MCSE - Same thing) IBM is pushing to the same model as TCS (TaTa) where they will have a skelton staff on US soil with the core team in low cost GR's.. sad but true. TCS is eating ibm's lunch.. they cannot compete cost wise and customers dont care anymore.. if they can save 50% by going offshore.. they will. The good news is some companies are actually insiting on US based jobs.. lets hope that more and more boards become patriotic and realize that they are on screwing the US by offshoring all of their work. Killing off the middle class of America, thru offshoring, will have a negative effect.. lets hope the boards of these companies realize that. Good luck to all.. especially the 08A family.. your targeted and forced attricition / corporate snipers have you in their sites. SDM's are being target in the near future as well. Cringley's 350,000 job loss was accurate!... ibm has been back peddling and redoing the plan becuase of all of the attention. as long as you realize ibm is no longer a career, but a sweatshop to gain experience, your fine. Dont bleed blue... unless you can get a union contract in place. -ExIBM'er-

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Comment 9/27/08: -Exodus2007- Set up an e-mail for this use, and abandon it after the initial contact is made. -Mule Skinner-

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Comment 9/25/08: 'Is there anybody alive out there?" I think now I finally understand these Bruce Springsteen words. We are in the midst of the 'biggest' financial crisis--why, because it involves big companies and big executives. If we don't bail them out, it will be a disaster. And it probably will. But what I don't understand is talk about executives receiving cuts in their so-called golden parachutes. Cuts??? Excuse me, cuts??? Why the hell should they be paid at all? If anything, the companies should go after them and take back their salaries for the preceding years. And that is a minimum. Personally, I think they should go to jail. All of a sudden, this is a BIG deal because it's BIG companies? Nobody had any concern for the typical worker who was laid off, or had pensions reduced--or eliminated--if you look at the security of many of today's 401Ks you might as well say they were eliminated. Almost everyone who is even reading this website is someone who has been, or is being threatened to be, a 'voluntary' separation from IBM. They have taken personal hits that in some cases resulted in total devastation for themselves and their own retirement goals and also their children. But IBM and the other big shots don't seem to think about that--we don't matter at all. Well, now we do matter. Even though most of the execs in this bailout are already financially set for lives, they do have to feel some shame. I'm sure their kids feel it also. For me, though, I'm proud that I left when I did and I'm also prouder of the fact that although I was (as were many employees) always forced to look upon these 'executives' as some type of god, this whole financial catastrophe is proving what I knew all along when I worked at IBM--they are no smarter than any of the rest of us. In fact, they are probably stupider than most. Many of us at least managed to survive and did not shame ourselves or our families with our sick greed. So, if there is 'anybody alive out there,' don't you think it is time you got together and maybe joined the union?? Or do you want them to continue to be allowed to make fools of us all--stealing our pensions, etc. Think about it, please. Unless the majority of workers organizes and unionizes, these atrocities will continue. -anon-

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Comment 9/24/08: To -Joe Punchclock- I am not real sure how to go about contacting one another. I do not think posting an email address or a phone number would work because I don't want to get bombarded by spam or prank calls. I will look into setting up a email just for this . Thank you for your kind words if nothing else. -Exodus2007-

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Comment 9/24/08: Thanks for the advice guys. I did take the package and left.. However, the release they made me sign is the (EXACT) same one that triggered the class action lawsuit in 2005. To be honest, I managed to make a nest for myself and frankly, its never been about money. Its about what is right and what is WRONG. The dismissal is so blatant (I have it in writing requesting a "fresh college aged student" on a job req I had been doing for 5 years. Just with a new group. Time is on my side as I am in school part time, and making more money part time with a staffing agency (doing the same job I might add) than I ever did with these fools. Regarding old customer signing, I suspect the contract was pulled because they are tied in this financial mess on Wall Street, and about to be bought, or sold to the Feds. Going back would be a step backwards I realized this after doing some more soul searching. If I don't get a dime, I don't care. What I want is someone to squirm and worry like I did for the past 6 months, and if nothing else, admit they were WRONG!! Leaving for Aruba on 9/25 for 3 weeks.....YAHOOOOOOOO. If you are still around, talk to your colleagues about the union DO IT. If you have left like myself, life is LOTS different when you are treated like a person, rather than a piece of meat resolving the lies they tell our customers with NO HELP AND NO ONE WHO WOULD TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT ANYTHING. I wish you all much luck. Thanks all....I will miss it, but not for much longer. Have a great life all!! -Pissed Off-

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Comment 9/23/08: Exodus2007 - you are a man with common sense, who's words have reached me. How can I contact you? -Joe Punchclock-

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Comment 9/23/08:  I understand the purpose of a union contract. I also realize that the chance of you getting any kind of reinstatement of the pre-1995 pension is pretty much zero. Start with some small victories before tackling the big ones. -Go Blue-
Alliance Reply:  It is agreed that getting IBM to undo its dirty work of 1995 has little chance of happening. However, the point we are making, is that a union contract, could be written with a stipulation that reflects the good version of the pre-1995 pension for its employees. Retirees on the 1995 and 1999 affected 'old plan', fortunately or unfortunately, have what they have for now. If you are an active employee; a union contract could make things better for your retirement. Without a union contract, nothing will change for the better.

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Comment 9/23/08: What infuriates me is if any of us go higher risk in our 401k"s and lose it all to a market fall we are told tough luck. Thats why it pays better sometimes. It is higher risk and no one bails us out. The first rule and regulation they MUST put in place before a penny is spent bailing anyone out is NO GOLDEN PARACHUTES. If an executive does a decent job his bonus money should be plenty for him or her to save towards retirement. Furthermore. Any company bailed out cannot pay ANY executives a bonus at all untill the bailout is repayed. If they had done their jobs properly they would not be reaching into my pocket. The board of directors should be fired and blacklisted from sitting on any companies board that has been bailed out as they failed to do their primary job and oversee the well being of the company they were paid to direct. As the books are " Uncooked " any executive bonuses paid for errroneous numbers should be repaid to the company towards the bailout debt for the past 5 years or whatever the statute of limitations is. Repayment of said funds or face prosecution as a criminal. Ill gotten gains are ill gotten gains. As obviously the average American can not trust the investment firms to properly invest or safeguard their pensions any company that converted to cash balance 401k hybrid type pensions must restore old pension plans. If huge investment firms cannot manage their money and survive Wall street greed how can the Average Joe be expected to. If Wall street and corporate america wants more of our money they must put back one of the pillars of our society, the defined pension. Fund the pension plans with executive bonus and raise money untill fully funded. Dont worry. Those fat cat executives will not leave and take a job digging ditches just to spite you. They will cling to their cushy offices in their ivory towers untill the playing field levels and the heat is off and they can start collecting bonus money for actual performance. -Exodus2007-

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Comment 9/23/08: To: -ibmnomore- Re: Comment 9/21/08: "Tivoli managers requested WORLDWIDE to cut costs (and workforce...) by 20%. Effective immediately. (got from a trusted source...)" Do you have any more details on this you can share? Deadlines? All I am waiting for is a package offer!   -*** BOHICA ***-

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Comment 9/22/08: sby_willie - whatever changes happened in 1995 are so far in the past it doesn't matter. You don't really expect any union to get those changes rescinded, do you? All I read about is how unions are sometimes able to stop any further changes. -Go Blue-
Alliance Reply: You don't understand the function of a union contract. A union contract specifys all items of agreement; which include, pensions, medical benefits, pay rate for regular hours, OT pay rate, holidays, layoff restrictions, grievance procedures, and contract renegotiation terms, just to name a few. You need to read more about other companies that are unionized and have active contracts that are functioning quite well. The SBC company contract is posted on our web site as an example: The Value Of A Union Contract

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Comment 9/22/08: How long before a riot, that is what I am wondering. With the bailout of these banks that's going to put tax pressure on all of us--pressure that will hurt the middle class even more, how can they still even consider paying the exexutives such exorbitant salaries? I think there is going to come a time when a disgruntled former employee snaps as he hears about the exec payouts while he wonders how he'll pay his mortgage and feed his family. I'm amazed that no employee has yet grabbed a manager or an exec by his tie and given him (or her!) a good black shiner. Being Italian, I'd prefer two broken legs but I try to live my life in peace. However, I think riots are on the near horizon, both inside and outside offices! It's getting to the point where that is a last resort--get rid of these greedy losers once and for all!! Jail is the real place most of them should be, and for many years. They are willingly ruining the country and the lives of its citizens. -anon-

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Comment 9/22/08: "Doesn't anyone remember when they took the estimator tool down so nobody could see what they had?????" Yes, one day it was gone and no one would tell me anything as to where it went. I called HR and they wouldn't tell me anything. Bottom line is that IBM can change the rules whenever they want when there is no Union to fight back. They will keep changing the rules to suit them until there is a Union. The people that think IBM treats them well now will see what I'm talking about. IBM is like a mean dog. Some days it will be nice and let you pet him but one day it will bite back and take your hand off. People, wise up and stand up to this corporate mean dog and support the Alliance! :-) -Harry Shaft-

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Comment 9/21/08: anon - unemployment benefit rules regarding the effect of severence benefits vary significantly depending on the state of your employment. Not every state is as generous as yours. It is advisable for everyone at risk of being affected by severance pay issues consult their state's unemployment law and policies. Some issues to research
- when do you become eligible for unemployment if given a severance package
- the amount of the unemployment paid,
- specific rules to maintain eligibility/deny eligibility for unemployment, e.g. number of jobs applied for per month, jobs you are required to take else you lose eligibility, etc.
- how long you will receive unemployment benefits.
- what happens if while unemployed you become disabled and unable to work. -Frank-

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Comment 9/21/08: Tivoli managers requested WORLDWIDE to cut costs (and workforce...) by 20%. Effective immediately. (got from a trusted source...) regards -ibmnomore-

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Comment 9/20/08: Severance pay--someone posted below that if you don't get severance pay, you will get unemployment. The good news is even if you do get severance, you do get unemployment anyway. I got it for about a year which was great because it allowed me to go back to school for a second masters degree since I wanted to change careers. Also, with unemployment, you do not have to accept a job that is less than 80% (or something around there) of your former salary, so you have a while to shop around rather than settle with just anything. -anon-

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Comment 9/20/08: I took my early retirement back in 2005 with 25 years of service and I know you do not get the full pension--I worked in HR. My 'pension' is pitiful. Since I am single with a daughter, my accountant advised me to take it out in cash because he figured that with the cash that was there I would have to live at least 15 years before I collected it all monthly, and with no surviving spouse to leave the payments to, I'd lose it all if I died earlier! My child would get nothing--so instead we took it out and put it into an IRA. That way if something happened to me, she would still have somehing and IBM would NOT get away with keeping what was mine. Also, I know that the pension formulas were changed a few times during the last 10 years I was there. Doesn't anyone remember when they took the estimator tool down so nobody could see what they had????? -aon-

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Comment 9/19/08: To>>-Go Blue- >> If you did not retire prior to YE2007, you kissed the 10% of Full Pension away. You will get your FHA, and whatever your Vested Rights payments were from the past 2'nd choicer plan. You seem to be very naive of the plan changes and the Pension FREEZE. Either that or you are "full of Palmisano". -no_ky-

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Comment 9/19/08: I left IBM on my terms months ago. Could not afford to look around unsatisfied people complaining and doing nothing about job conditions. Not even writing a resume. IBM has become a greed company. HR policy is now only about top 10% (top talent, technical and exec resources) and becoming one of them mean serving your manager as a slave. It was a great satisfaction to leave 1st and 2nd line manager with a (new) salary greater than theirs. And I left behind people fighting each other to get "visibility". Today's life at IBM is just that. Manager do lot of meetings to identify poor performers (i.e. people who not behave like them expect). Good luck IBMers. You may even be in the top talent list (now), but you are getting older and your turn will come. -a_saved_one-

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Comment 9/19/08: -Go Blue- The bottom line is this. If you are 55, pension eligible and have enough money to retire, then getting RA'ed is the best thing that can happen to you. You 'may' get severence and if you don't, you can go collect unemployment. However, if you don't have enough money to retire and want to continue working at IBM with the higher salary you just got, then joining the union can help keep your job secure and help prevent losing more benefits in the future. That's the bottom line.-esc-

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