IBM To Cut Up To 13,000 JobsIBM To Cut Up To 13,000 Jobs
Most job cuts are expected in IBM's European operations.
IBM said Wednesday it will slash up to 13,000 jobs worldwide as part of an expected restructuring aimed at boosting the company's slow-growing sales and profits.
In a statement, the company said the shakeup will include "voluntary and involuntary workforce reductions of between 10,000 and 13,000 employees worldwide." Most of the job cuts will come in Europe, the company added. IBM employs about 300,000 workers worldwide. The job cuts will result in a pretax charge of between $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion against second-quarter earnings, IBM said.
IBM CFO Mark Loughridge warned that a restructuring was in the offing when IBM released its first-quarter results April 18. IBM's revenue grew just 3.3% to $22.9 billion for the three months ended March 31. Net income rose a meager 2.9% to $1.4 billion.
IBM will doubtless face fierce labor opposition in Europe as it attempts to implement its plan. In April, workers in Germany staged protests and some French workers declared a short strike over the company's plans to close some facilities. IBM says the cuts reflect the fact that Europe is one of its slower-growing markets. IBM's first-quarter sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa increased 2%, excluding currency-related gains.
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