IBM is recruiting employees as strike-breakers
IBM is recruiting employees from other countries (US and Argentina so far), to go to IBM Chile in the event of a strike.
In September of 2010, IBM employees in Chile formed a union. This past May, the union presented IBM 23 points for negotiations and inclusion in their union contract. IBM management rejected all 23 points. While negotiations between IBM and the IBM Chile union are ongoing, the Alliance has learned that IBM is actively recruiting US employees to go to Chile to work in case there is a strike. The IBM Chile union wants to negotiate not strike.
IBM has been contacting certain employees/skill sets to go to Chile. In some cases, management has admitted the situation is to send people to Chile in case of a strike. In other cases IBM is not even telling employees what the true nature of their work will be. It is called strikebreaking.
We strongly encourage IBM US employees not to be involved in helping corporate management defeat the IBM Chile Union. Please send this email to co-workers who are being recruited to go to Chile.
More information on the Alliance web site.
The following is a sample of what the Alliance has received in regards to the situation in IBM Chile:
"Heard this from a friend in another division and is highly reliable. There was a meeting in a SWG development lab(not GDF) called by a high level manager. All hand- selected attendees spoke Spanish. They were not told about the IBM strike in Chile. They were told IBM Chile needs extra help. They asked for volunteers for a 3 to 6 month assignment. 40% expressed interest. Attendees who did not volunteer were told to get their passport in order. They were told this is highly confidential. Unbelievable that IBM would consider sending IBM employees into potential harms way.".
At the moment negotiations between the union and local management are ongoing and no strike is planned yet. UNI global union and the international trade union alliance at IBM stand in support of the IBM Chile Union as they work to improve working conditions at the company.