26 September, 2007IBM workers in Italy to hold virtual protest in virtual world on September 27.
ITALY: IBM workers in Italy will take their dispute with the computer giant into the virtual world from 9am to 9pm GMT tomorrow, September 27.
During the talks to renew a collective agreement with IBM in Italy, the works council, supported by the majority of IBM Italy employees, asked for a small salary increase. IBM responded by cancelling their "productive results benefit", resulting in a loss of €1000 per year for each employee. The company is refusing to talk to representatives of the 9,000 Italian workforce.
Members and supporters will be protesting on the IBM's virtual "islands" in Second Life, a virtual world which it uses to promote the company and build new links with customers. Real-life protest pickets outside IBM offices in Italy will accompany the virtual picket with workers handing out information on the dispute.
The virtual protest is the first of its kind and has attracted extensive media attention. The actions of the IBM workers coordinating body in Italy is being supported by global unions UNI and the International Metalworkers' Federation and the European Metalworkers' Federation and IBM workers in at least 18 countries. To find out more about how to participate in the virtual protest, visit: www.uniglobalunion.org/secondlife