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More than 40 unionists from 15 countries met at UNI’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland last week to form the "IBM Global Union Alliance” through the EMF, IMF and UNI global union. Their intention is to engage with the company to further develop trade union and workers’ rights so « that the next century will be better than the last for these key stakeholders ».



Various unions have worked together over the years, but the new organization "takes that network to another level and will include many more IBM unions” such as the recently formed trade unions in Argentina, Chile and Bulgaria.

"As IBM has set itself up as a truly global company, trade unions also need to set up a truly global alliance," the group said.

The networking among unions around the globe representing IBM workers dates to the 1980s, said Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of labor education research at Cornell University. If unions work in solidarity globally, Bronfenbrenner said, "I think they can get something."

The alliance objectives are to pursue agreements with IBM to improve working conditions of IBM employees worldwide and to raise levels of trade union membership at IBM. “Employees of IBM worldwide have not been allowed even their statutatory entitlements whilst unions representing these workers have generally been resisted by the company who has whenever possible avoided recognising collective employee representation” said a participant.



Some of the themes addressed included industrial relations and workers' representation at IBM. Another major issue was the establishment of a strategic plan for the alliance. It has been decided to create a blog, to improve cooperation with IWIS alliance@IBM and to conduct an international day of action later on this year. The alliance also committed to work on a joint organising campaign at IBM next year.