IBM layoff rumors swirling again (Burlington: layoffs, contractors, college)

[quickdraw]

Sounds like it's going to be huge.

[flu189]

My wife comes into contact with folks who deal with IBM in one capacity or another and just yesterday also heard more about what may be coming. A few longtime and retired IBM'ers I have met through my work all seem to feel that it will not be if, but rather when, IBM will close up shop here and relocate it's Vt operations elsewhere. This type of talk even preceded the current financial crisis. Unfortunately some of the root causes for such a business decision the state cannot alter, but then again many actions and decisions by the state can be said to hasten downsizing and cause businesses to leave or not even bother establishing themselves here in the first place.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by flu189

My wife comes into contact with folks who deal with IBM in one capacity or another and just yesterday also heard more about what may be coming. A few longtime and retired IBM'ers I have met through my work all seem to feel that it will not be if, but rather when, IBM will close up shop here and relocate it's Vt operations elsewhere. This type of talk even preceded the current financial crisis. Unfortunately some of the root causes for such a business decision the state cannot alter, but then again many actions and decisions by the state can be said to hasten downsizing and cause businesses to leave or not even bother establishing themselves here in the first place.

There are rumors going around that it could be in the next few days and it could be around 1000 workers.

There's usually some truth to these rumors.

I'm shocked this place is still going.

[quickdraw]

IBM Employees Buzzing About Layoff Rumors (PC World)


- An independent Web site for IBM employees has been buzzing (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/ibmemployeesbuzzingaboutlayoffrumors/30455714/SIG=11oi6qco4/*http://www.allianceibm.org/jobcutstatusandcomments.php - broken link) with rumors that the company will make significant layoffs this month.
One message states that IBM will announce 16,000 layoffs on Jan. 23, affecting workers worldwide. Similar predictions are made in other recent posts on the site, which is run by the Alliance@IBM/Communications Workers of America Local 1701, a union that is trying to organize IBM workers.
A number of messages state that IBM's semiconductor plant in Burlington, Vermont, may be particularly hard hit.
IBM has more than 386,000 employees worldwide, according to its Web site. If the rumored 16,000 figure proves accurate, then, it would equal roughly a 4 percent reduction in headcount.

[tkln]

Does anybody know how many people IBM in VT actually employs? Is it only a plant, or is there offices, etc, as well?

This will be rough, but I feel like we've been hearing about it for so long that it was only a matter of time...

[flu189]

From what I know it's a mixture of actual IBM employees supplemented by outside contractors and temps. I think I have heard was like 67% to 33% balance. I assume that if the decision is made to shutter the operations here a portion of the existing company staff will be given the option to relocate. In any case if this happens the impact will be noticeable as we are talking several thousand employees.

[GypsySoul22]

I remember when I was at college IBM WAS the employer of the area in Duchess County, NY.

They left and took the prosperity of the area with them.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by flu189

From what I know it's a mixture of actual IBM employees supplemented by outside contractors and temps. I think I have heard was like 67% to 33% balance. I assume that if the decision is made to shutter the operations here a portion of the existing company staff will be given the option to relocate. In any case if this happens the impact will be noticeable as we are talking several thousand employees.

Most of the temps have been axed in the last 6 months.

[MassVt]

...there will be about 180 layoffs, including part-timers; bad enough, but perhaps not the ultimate scenario that many feared...

[GypsySoul22]

I saw this at 6 am (note do not have tv tuned to channel 3 at 6 am). Get jolted awake by negative news. Bleh.

Maybe we all need to go back to farming here in VT.