Workers stage rally at company AGM against offshoring of ‘thousands’ of US jobs

IBM employees have staged a rally at the computer giant’s annual general meeting to protest against the offshore outsourcing of US-based jobs.
Chanting “Offshore the CEO,” staff and former employees demonstrated against IBM’s increased focus on outsourcing and cost cutting.

The demonstration was organised by Alliance@IBM and the Communications Workers of America unions, which also submitted proposals on corporate governance to be discussed at the company meeting.

“IBM has admitted that thousands of jobs are being sent offshore to India, China, Brazil and other countries, with plans to increase this outsourcing,” said Lee Conrad, national coordinator for Alliance@IBM, in a statement.

“This raises serious concerns about the long-term job prospects for workers in the US, and also about the need to ensure that customers have the quality service they expect to receive from IBM.”

The Alliance asked for a review of the company’s executive pay policies to see whether they create an undue incentive to make “short-sighted decisions” such as an over-reliance on offshore employees.

But addressing shareholders, IBM chairman and chief executive Sam Palmisano said globalisation was an important issue, and promised $25m to help those affected to retrain and find jobs with the firm’s partners.

“I think most people recognise that we can’t simply lock into place current jobs, skills, businesses - or, for that matter, nations,” he told shareholders.

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