Alliance@IBM/CWA - Ultimate Take Away

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09/13/2007 Toxic legacy
Expanded TCE probe might provide clues to Endwell cancer cluster ...read story

Cancer study may focus on IBM files.
Health officials' proposal would examine illness rate of workers at Endicott plant...read story

Endicott stands at crossroads on pollution. Village faces major decision on TCE study. read story

IBM Fishkill workers are reporting that 2 buildings might have high Lead levels. Workers are being tested and are concerned. For information on lead exposure see link: Lead & the Workplace

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The Ultimate Take Away - Your Health

Throughout our careers and work at IBM we made many assumptions based on what we were told by company management.
We assumed we would have a good pension. We assumed we would have medical benefits and they would be free. We assumed that if we did a good job and played by the rules we would be respected and stay employed until we chose to leave.

We also assumed that IBM was a safe place to work and employees and their communities would be safe from the toxic bombardments we saw with other companies. That assumption, like others, has been misleading. Employees and their families have been faced with the ultimate take away-their health and their lives.

Many of you, no doubt, saw the results of the lawsuit in San Jose, where former IBM employees sued IBM for what they alleged was IBM’s neglect in adequately protecting them from the ravages of working with toxic chemicals.

For those of us that worked in IBM’s manufacturing plants through the 1960’s, 70’ and 80’s we know full well that there was something just not right. We are seeing not only our own health affected but former co-workers as well.

In Endicott, workers for many years suspected that the chemicals they worked with in Buildings 18 and 47 caused health problems. Women employees felt there was a higher than normal rate of miscarriages and birth defects. Many employees complained of lung ailments and skin rashes. Still others suffered with cancers and tumors. All the while management and company doctors tried to convince employees that it was their own individual problem or allergy. Workers were also told “if you don’t like working here then quit”.
It was clear to employees that regardless of complaints production would not be disrupted.
In a New York Times article about a lawsuit by former Fishkill IBM employees, the mother of a daughter who died from cancer said “I think our daughter and others have been the byproduct of greed over safety. The company was more concerned with making the dollar than with the safety of their employees. They knew there were hazards but they closed their eyes to them to keep the line moving.”

Tthe lawsuit in San Jose was significant; However, It is not the first and it will not be the last. Hopewell Junction and Endicott are in battles with the company over toxic plumes that have polluted their communities and IBM employees and retirees across the country are keeping a watchful eye for more developments on chemical exposures and their health. While the focus has been on IBM’s clean rooms, IBMers know the problem goes way beyond clean rooms. Many IBM employees were exposed to chemicals in many different work areas and processes.

For IBM there will be no peace and no rest until there is justice for IBMers living with and dying from toxic time bombs.