IBM lays off 450 in Systems and Technology

[Omaha Steve]

Source: United Press International

EAST FISHKILL, N.Y., July 30 (UPI) -- IBM Corp. said Monday it would lay off 450 U.S. workers as part of a "resource action" to cut costs in its Systems and Technologies Group.

Some 300 of the laid-off workers are at IBM's semiconductor plant in East Fishkill, N.Y., a company spokesman told The Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal.

About 90 cuts came at IBM's Burlington, Vt., chip complex, spokesman Glenn Thomas said. The rest, about 60, were spread among various other locations.

The laid-off workers, who include managers as well as rank-and-file employees, worked in the group's supply chain operation, packaging and testing of chips, and technology and development, the company said.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Business/2007/07/30/ibm_lays_off_450_in_systems_and_technology/1440/

[Morereason]

1. How much you want to bet they are secretly rehiring non-Americans?

I saw this happen in 2000, working at a big fortune 500 company, layed off many thousands. I noticed at the same time many many new workers from other countries. Now you can look up the stats, they never had a net drop in employees. They were growing while claiming to cut back. Just getting rid of Americans. It's sick.

[TXDemGal]

2. Oh, you KNOW they are...

No question about it.

[broadcaster]

3. Also, my guess: they are laying off 40+ yo workers..

and backfilling with new college hires or H1B visa people. I don't know the status of
these two facilities at Fishkill NY and Burlington VT., but it might also be
that they are deskilling these locations---as in moving high level work out to
other places (US or other countries).

[barb162]

4. When are American voters going to demand that the candidates

tackle this issue.

[Lasher]

7. Hillary is in bed with Tata Consulting

If you don't like to see H-1B and L-1 visas used to replace American workers, don't vote for her.

[OhioChick]

9. You're Absolutely Right.

K&R

[bleedingheart]

11. but which candidate is not...?

that is what worries me...

this issue is one of my biggest pet peeves concerning corporate america...and yet it continues...

which candidate is not beholden to corporate interests?

[Lasher]

12. I don't know, Kucinich maybe?

Or Edwards? Maybe the best we can do at this time is pick the candidate who is least beholden to corporations.

[bleedingheart]

13. we have to do that across the board...we have to start electing

an entirely new group of folks to govern not only DC but the states as well...

The corruption of politics runs very deep...

[Lasher]

18. I'm up for it

But I don't know how we can be very effective nationally, with all the corporate money in politics. Candidates don't get money unless they kiss corporate asses. And without the money, well, Kucinnich is a good example of how far you can get with good ideas and no money.

[dkhbrit]

14. Hang on

Not all L1 workers are considered cheap alternatives.

I was L1 for nearly 7 years (now green card, which took forever when others get them without any effort at all).

Please don't assume that we're all here as a cheap alternative to American workers because we're not.

[Lasher]

16. American workers are being harmed by too many H-1B and L-1 visas

I didn't say all L-1s are cheap alternatives, although I think it is fair to say they are in most cases.

But isn't it fair to say that all, including you, come as alternatives, whether cheap or not, to American workers?

[Tesha]

8. Semiconductor fabs have been moving off shore for decades. (NT)

[tblue37]

15. Or rehiring the fired workers as temps without benefits. n/t

[Enrique]

17. my first thought: outsourcing abroad

I haven't read the article yet. I wonder if that obvious possibility is mentioned. We'll see...

edit: nope, no mention. If reported at all, it will be in a future story, with no reference to these layoffs.

[barb162]

5. The game is to do it in small numbers to keep it out of the papers

I know a company that lays off about 20 Americans a week, every week for the last few years, sending the jobs to India. They know the games, mainly keep it out of the papers.

[Morereason]

6. Kick for one more recommend, this is important. Time to get more attention!

[SecularMotion]

10. "Employees continue to have targets on them"

More detail from the local paper:

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/BUSINESS01/707310327

[shenmue]

19. That ought to be great for India!

:puke:

:grr:

:argh:

:banghead:

:rant:

[acmavm]

20. So does that mean that they'll cut the number of H1-b visas for

tech workers that they want to let in the country by 450? Or are they gonna tell us Americans don't want these jobs?????? Or that there are no skilled workers?

[candice]

21. More H-1B visa workers needed! No one over 40 wants to work

except as greeters at Wal-Mart.