IBM, which employs about 10,000 people at its Research Triangle Park campus, is laying off some employees here and in Charlotte, according to a labor union trying to organize IBM's workers.
"We are hearing of job cuts that started yesterday at IBM at two divisions -- Systems Technology Group and Global Technology Services," said Lee Conrad, national field coordinator of Alliance@IBM.
In addition to Charlotte and RTP, the layoffs are occurring at IBM facilities in New York, Georgia, California and Rochester, Minn., Conrad said.
Conrad said his group doesn't yet know the extent of the cuts in North Carolina or elsewhere.
The labor union is waiting for reports on the size of the cuts within the business units. Laid-off employees are given a package that details the number of jobs cut within a business unit.
Conrad's group pieces together the size of cuts as employees share those packages.
Such efforts are an attempt to get around IBM's policy of not commenting on layoffs.
A company spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request to comment.
IBM instituted a round of layoffs in February in its Global Business Services division, according to Alliance@IBM.
Business reporter David Bracken came to the N&O in 2004. He covers commercial and residential real estate. Contact David at 919-829-4548 or
Comments
It is called "Right Shoring"
Wed, 05/25/2011 - 19:38 — BigSharkFind the "Right Shore / Country" to produce your widgets.
Some of my buddies are still at IBM. This is a major iniative to move jobs over seas because of the cost savings. Do it in small chunks so people don't figure it out.
Coupled with the labor
Wed, 05/25/2011 - 19:50 — PhantomLordCoupled with the labor savings, and in many cases and overriding reason is...
TAXES!!!
Go Big Blue!!!! My
Wed, 05/25/2011 - 14:25 — PhantomLordGo Big Blue!!!! My portfolio is loving you!
No big surprise
Wed, 05/25/2011 - 13:11 — penniless_taxpayerBack in the early 1980's, IBM had 75% of its workforce in the United States and 25% elsewhere in the world. Today the percentages are reversed. At last count, Indian Business Machines (IBM) was down to 18% of its workforce still in the United States (most of that government contracts). It's a joke to even consider IBM an American company anymore. They should go ahead and get the h*ll out of the country and not come back.
BIG blue
Wed, 05/25/2011 - 18:26 — ncsurveygirlThink about how those 10,000 ppl in RTP would react if you got what you wished for. They wont get rid of all 10k here, so dont wish for this, unemployment is high enough. There are still lots of IBMers in the US and Canada. And while I do like seeing a balance, I does stand for International.