JMIU fights against IBM's 'sneak attack' on workers

IBM Japan, a subsidiary of the world's largest computer maker IBM U.S., has been secretly telling its employees to leave the company in a small room without announcing its restructuring plan.

A 50-year-old worker one day was unexpectedly told by his boss in a private room, "If you retire by June, you will get extra allowance. You have no other choice."

The All-Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers' Union (JMIU) IBM Japan branch found out that the company has been targeting workers with poor job performance, the ones over 50 years old or working at a section which does not directly make profit, for the "sneak attack."

IBM Japan has been rushing to carry out its large restructuring plan to meet the U.S. headquarters' demand for downsizing. The company established a branch on July 1 in order to send 100 workers over 50 years old and cut their salary by 45 percent.

The JMIU IBM Japan branch has been calling for a struggle against the company's reckless downsizing. Twelve union members, who were told by IBM Japan to work for its subsidiaries, made the company promise to treat them under the same working conditions. This encouraged other workers to refuse the company's order to transfer. (end)