Computer giant IBM has sacked a group of experienced and highly skilled workers whose job is to provide IT back-up to some of Australia’s biggest corporations, including Westpac.

The Australian Services Union, representing the workers, said that IBM had dismissed a quarter of their FlightDeck operation located in Baulkham Hills, responsible for keeping the IT systems of Australia’s biggest companies running smoothly.

ASU NSW & ACT (Services) Branch Secretary Sally McManus said the cut of 19 full-time positions would leave companies such as Westpac, Qantas, MLC and some Australian Government departments vulnerable if their systems experience difficulty.

“These high-tech machines rely on people – and it defies belief that service standards can be maintained with a 25 per cent staff cut,” Ms McManus said.

Meanwhile, IBM has also announced that some service to companies including Myer, FIS, Cathay Pacific and Bada will be sent offshore to China.

The sackings come as the workers are attempting to negotiate a collective agreement with the global computing giant.

“ASU members who work on the Westpac contract believe IBM is making a serious mistake, as they have targeted some of the most experienced and highly skilled workers. These workers keep Westpac’s ATM and EFTPOS network running smoothly. If there is a breakdown, the most experience workers will no longer be there to respond.

“IBM workers who have not been made redundant are now even more resolved to win a collective agreement, as their managers have told them there are likely to be more staff cuts in future.

“Inevitably, it will be IBM’s clients – and the public who rely on them – who will suffer a reduction in service as a result of the redundancies,” Ms McManus said.

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