Essex Junction, Vermont - April 14, 2011
"IBM's priorities are with IBM. They're not with the employees. They're not with the people of the state of Vermont," said Glenn Taulton, a retired IBM worker.
A group of workers at the Essex Junction IBM that has in the past tried unsuccessfully to unionize is calling its employer a bully. Alliance@IBM, which is affiliated with national labor groups but does not have collective bargaining strength in Vermont, questions why Big Blue is so afraid of launching universal health care in Vermont.
"IBM is a worldwide company. They deal with the public, private, union contracts, single-payer health care plans in other countries. They can do it here in Vermont too," said Earl Mongeon, of the Alliance@IBM.
There's no doubt IBM has clout in Vermont. With about 5,000 workers, they have a place at the table for a lot of public policy discussions. Big Blue has been cautioning lawmakers for weeks that changing the way the state handles health care is risky: it worries it could mean more taxes on big businesses.
The Essex Junction chip maker has said if Vermont sets up a single state-run health insurance system for all residents, that could make it very hard for large businesses to stay competitive. Especially if payroll taxes on employers spike to fund universal care.
"The primary principle is we have to have the ability to control our cost. If we can control our costs, and manage them successfully as we've been able to do with health care, that's necessary for us," IBM's John O'Kane said last week.
The Alliance@IBM predicts a state-run system will help workers better afford health care, saying IBM's plans are expensive. The plant declined on-camera on the group's position, saying only that the employees are entitled to their opinions as citizens but the company needs to keep an eye on its bottom line while the state considers sweeping health care change.
After our initial report aired, an employee contacted WCAX News to say the Alliance@IBM speaks only for a small number of workers. Business groups are warning lawmakers that some major companies, like IBM, could end up leaving Vermont if single-payer goes through. The union says there's no reason to worry.
"I don't think people can continue to let that threat hang over them for making health care reform a reality and giving Vermonters what they need," said Bonnie MacBrien, who was laid off from IBM in 2003.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says if his universal care goal is successful it will actually save money and IBM will be glad. Shumlin says the company is working closely with lawmakers on cost-containment and the governor says the talks have not been adversarial at all.
IBM released a statement late Thursday saying it recognizes Shumlin does not want to take away its ability to manage its own health care. Big Blue also said if it handles its own care and is still taxed, it would be compelled to oppose health care legislation.
Jack Thurston - WCAX News
