Investigation of IBM sought

[NeoConsSuck]

Source: TimesUnion.com

POUGHKEEPSIE — Assemblyman Gregory Ball is demanding a state investigation into IBM Corp. offshore hiring practices while taking taxpayer dollars.

On Thursday, Ball, R-Patterson, said he was drafting a letter to Chairman Richard Brodsky of the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions to request bipartisan hearings on the matter.

"IBM seems to have a long-term approach to outsourcing," Ball said, "and my fear is they're actually using taxpayer funds to subsidize offshoring good-paying American jobs."

<snip>
Ball is particularly disturbed by the $45 million IBM received from Empire State Development Corp. on Dec. 15 in return for not cutting jobs in East Fishkill last year. Only weeks after cashing the check, IBM slashed hundreds of East Fishkill workers.

"This is exactly why we should be focusing our energies on supporting small and medium enterprises, small business owners," he said, "instead of subsidizing large multinational corporations with global reach, especially those with a proactive offshoring plan, like IBM."


Read more: http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=784213&category=BUSINESS

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This article didn't mention it, but another article did. IBM is trying to get 30 billion dollars from the stimulus plan for infrastructure projects. And is the 30 billion dollars going to employ Americans or foreign workers??

[Fresh_Start]

1. I strongly believe not even the tiniest bit of any government

contract should be allowed to be satisfied from offshore labor or materials.
If we need it for good government, then we need to produce it for the future.

Imagine if all the corporations saw all their government sales evaporate due to offshoring?

[msongs]

2. furthermore all offshoring companies should lose ALL tax benefits nt

[Deja Q]

3. Mr. Ball, thank you VERY much. I would vote for your re-election if I were in your area.

:yourock:

American taxpayer money should be used to help our country and our economy.

If large corporations want to offshore, that's fine -- without public assistance, support, or approval without just cause, of course.

[OhioChick]

12. Sam Palmisano: IBM CEO begs Obama for bailout

Sam Palmisano: IBM CEO begs Obama for bailout

http://gawker.com/5078804/ibm-ceo-begs-obama-for-bailout

Let India pay for their bailout.

[Veruca Salt]

15. Agreed!

And thank you for staying on top of all the goings on of offshoring and layoffs. Being in the computer industry I personally make it a point not to support businesses that offshore tech jobs of any kind in solidarity with my fellow computer workers. Because you keep us updated so well on all this it's incredibly helpful in my own personal protests.

[OhioChick]

16. Thank you...

I have a vested interest in outsourcing/offshoring, myself.

It's very nice to meet you. :hi:

[terisan]

4. Focusing on small and medium companies without global reach--sounds good.

[Digit]

5. I wonder if NC did this, too. eom

[1776Forever]

6. Fantastic post - We all have the responsibility to keep this going! Enough!

:mad:

[Jello Biafra]

7. They also did this before....

the WARN acts went into law. Deeply disturbing...everyone is starting to get the 411 on this...

[davidwparker]

8. I have no problem believing this

[tomm2thumbs]

9. what I'm surprised by when calling for tech help is just how many people in

...India are named John, Rick, Dave, Barbara and Jenny.

It's quite amazing actually.

[mnhtnbb]

10. Except it's so obvious by their accents that they're not US Nationals.

[OhioChick]

11. I'm very happy to hear this!

I noticed on the "open forum" on whitehouse.gov that there were MANY angry people with IBM.
What tech worker is going to want their taxpayer dollars going to hire people in India when they could do the job themselves?

Enough of this greedy ass BS from IBM.

[ChromeFoundry]

13. Good! K&R n/t

[OutNow]

14. Investigate? Hell Yes

As a former IBM employee I strongly support the need for an investigation. Why? Because the last thing IBM wants is a public airing of their employment practices.

Want proof? Ten years ago IBM suddenly announced that they were changing their defined benefit pension plan for all employees to a "new" cash balance plan. In the conversion long time employees would lose up to 70% of their benefits overnight. The ensuing shit storm of protest from employees and pension experts had no visible effect. IBM backed off and allowed long term employees to keep their defined benefit pension ONLY because a few wonderful members of Congress, including Bernie Sanders and Maurice Hinchey, demanded a Congressional hearing on IBM's polices.

So yes, investigate away!!!