IBM Offers Retirement With Job Guarantee Through 2013

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Wednesday May 2, 2012 @07:04AM from the out-to-pasture dept.

dcblogs writes "IBM is offering employees who are nearing retirement — and may be worried about a layoff — a one-time voluntary program that would ensure their employment through Dec. 31, 2013. The program, described in a letter addressed to IBM managers, 'offers participants 70% of their pay for working 60% of their schedule.' Participating employees would receive 'the same benefits they do today, most at a full-time level, including health benefits and 401(k) Plus Plan automatic company contributions.' In 2006, IBM employed about 127,000 in U.S. The Alliance@IBM, a CWA local, now estimates the U.S. workforce at around 95,000. How far IBM will go in cutting is up for debate, including one radical estimate."

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Re:They're acting like they're in trouble! by Richard_at_work · 2012-05-02 08:34 · Score: 0, Flamebait

The problem is unions - I've seen situations in the US aviation industry where a unionized worker was fired because they violently struck a fellow worker with a tool, and the union protested the sacking and prepared to take action against the employer because it was "union policy to contest all terminations and negative actions toward members by employers". The matter was settled with a payoff, because the employer didn't want his work force walking out on a union strike.