Between ten and thirteen thousand IMB workers in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and France will have to find new jobs over the coming months, as the company is downsizing due to soft economic conditions. While most of the layoffs in Europe will be voluntary, the company will face a tough fight with labor unions, who will be seeking protections for the employees.
See "IBM Shares Fall on Job Cut Announcement", Associated Press, The New York Times, May 4, 2005