IBM to axe 13,000 jobs worldwide

Thursday 5th May, 2005
Computer giant IBM will cut 13,000 jobs worldwide, or about 4% of its total workforce, as part of a restructuring aimed at boosting profits - write the BBC

Most of the job losses will be at IBM's European operations as the firm looks to focus on high-growth markets. The company employs 100,000 staff in Europe, with about 25,000 of those working in the United Kingdom. The extent of the job cuts in the UK is not yet clear, although there are fears that 2,800 staff at the company's centre in Greenock, Scotland, could be among the worst affected.

A spokesman for the workers' union Amicus called the move a "slash and burn" reaction to poor results and called for talks. "We fear the worst, given that it is quicker, cheaper and easier to get rid of workers in the UK than elsewhere in Europe," the spokesman said.
The news comes just weeks after IBM reported worse-than-expected earnings in the first quarter.

My sympathies to all concerned, I've been a victim of the IBM axe and it's a big sharp one.

Comments/Trackbacks [1]

Posted in:  IBM/Lotus  at 13:05:21