Why employees need a Union!

I am writing to report that I lost my job at IBM after serving there vigilantly for over 21 years.

I had a stellar career - until - IBM began encouraging managers to target older employees who were on the old plan and close to their most profitable pre-retirement years.

Then after 3 re-orgs I was unfairly rated a "3" performer two times in a row - by a new, never been a manager - who knew nothing about our field - and had clearly been hired simply to "clean house" of near-retirement old plan employees.

I tried to fight this - and went up 2 levels of management - (who sided with my lying manager) -
I also went to HR - who informed me they represented management.

I DID in fact manage to find another job within IBM - however, the morning after I received an email from the hiring manager telling me they had decided to hire me - My manager presents me with my "package" - and informs me that she gave the hiring manager such a terrible report about me, that they changed their minds.

So - I was literally sabotaged out of a better job offer - by my current manager - because she wanted to get her promised bonus that they give managers who build bogus performance cases to rid the company of old-plan employees within just a few years of full retirement.

By terminating my employment when IBM did - I ended up with less than half of the pension I would have received, had I kept working for just another 4 years, till the age of 55.

I was informed by a personal friend of mine - whom had been an IBM manager - that indeed - she was told to "select" someone on the old plan once a year, track that individual and notate every time they had a sick day, were late for a meeting, moved out a deadline etc. etc. - building a case to give them a poor rating then fire them based on the trumped up poor performance.
- In exchange for this effort - she was promised a bonus for each old plan employee she was able to terminate from the payroll and pension plan. - My friend as a result submitted her resignation from the company just a few days after being instructed that she would be expected to do this dirty and dishonest work as an IBM manager.

I knew something was wrong when my new manager was angry with me every time I got an award or a thank you note from one of our clients. - Then it started - the impossible assignments and unreasonable tasks - Being told I "missed deadlines" - when she could not substantiate any such missed deadlines. - Being told I was not a team player - or "others" on the team had complained about me. - When I would ask for details or for her to substantiate these claims - she would always say she could not remember - or could come up with no ACTUAL occurrences.
- But when I found that upper management simply backed her lies without question . . . - and then was told by HR that they backed management - I knew it was all over.

I am writing you these details in hopes that you may use this information - and/or at least count me in your statistics.

I started with IBM at age 30 in 1985 -
I was a SOLID 1 and 2 performer until management decided it was time to back out of the responsibility of paying my pension. - Then the "3" ratings, and "frame job" started.
To the very last day I maintained a professional stance, and continued to get glowing notes and awards from my clients and fellow employees whom I worked with and for.

IBM should be ashamed of themselves for resorting to LYING to reduce their pensioned head count.

The WORST thing to me - was my manager making sure I would not get my other job - which I would have been great at.

This manager is so clearly untrustworthy and has acted so dishonestly in sabotaging my career - that I am also afraid to list her name on job applications.-
I DO NOT believe she would give me a fair or positive assessment at all - she is very unprofessional and I am very disappointed in IBM for hiring and encouraging its new managers to act in these devious and dishonest ways - just to reduce head count and their precious pension responsibilities.

I find it inexcusable and immoral.

- All sad and all TRUE