IBM talks to staff about 're-deployments'
IBM Australia has hinted at the possibility of redundancies, saying that some employees were facing a "re-deployment process".
In a statement provided to ZDNet Australia today, IBM Australia spokesperson Matt Mollett admitted the company had been in talks with employees about "re-deployment opportunities".
"We continue to work directly with our employees to ensure their individual interests are central throughout the re-deployment process. In addition to re-deployment opportunities, IBM provides comprehensive support services including fully-funded career transition programs for affected employees," he said. It is unclear what options employees would have if they did not accept re-deployment.
IBM Australia's statement today would appear to back claims ASU branch secretary Sally McManus made last month that management at IBM Australia had told the union that the company would talk to its employees about redundancies from 12 May.
The Australian Services Union (ASU) had raised concerns in March that IBM was looking to offshore around 800 jobs from its Australian operations over all.
In his statement today, Mollett said IBM was keeping the ASU in the loop about the re-deployments ahead of its July appeal of Fair Work Australia's decision that it must negotiate with the union on employee benefits.