Layoff rumors: IBM 16,000 and Microsoft 15,000

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IBM Canada spokesman Mike Boden confirmed to ITBusiness.ca that a round of layoffs is underway at IBM. However, unlike what was reported on the the Alliance@IBM site, the layoffs are global. Unfortunately, Boden also told ITBusiness that no specific numbers regarding the cuts are being released so we still don’t know how many people are going to be let go.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/IBM-Layof...-cuts,6907.html

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The Armonk, N.Y.-based company has cut thousands of jobs over the past week, including positions in sales and the software and hardware divisions. IBM says the cuts are simply part of its ongoing efforts to watch costs, and the company won't release specific numbers, even as reports of firings stream in from IBM facilities across the country.

Workers have reported layoffs in Tucson, Ariz.; San Jose, Calif.; Rochester, Minn.; Research Triangle Park, N.C.; East Fishkill, N.Y.; Austin, Texas; and Burlington, Vt.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...WN7WdgD95VP2Q81

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IBM job cuts hit applications services unit, says union

IBM issued 1,674 layoff notices to U.S. employees in its applications services business on Thursday, as part of a larger round of anticipated cuts to its Global Business Services unit, according to a national representative of Alliance@IBM, an affiliate of the Communication Workers of America, which is seeking to unionize IBM.

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Alliance@IBM anticipates between 4,000 to 5,000 job cuts to be issued Thursday at IBM's Global Business Services unit, noting the cuts would be on par with those layoffs taken earlier in the year.

"We saw 5,000 job cuts in January-February and with the 5,000 we're expecting today, that brings it up to 10,000 cuts for just this quarter alone," said Lee Conrad, national coordinator for Alliance@IBM. "Many of these jobs are moving offshore and it's a disturbing sign for IBM and the nation."

An IBM spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

UBS analyst Maynard Um ... noted that the cuts could signify more aggressive action than previously anticipated from IBM.