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Lenovo makes guarantees to IBM strikers

By Chen Hong in Shenzhen, Guangdong (China Daily) Updated: 2014-03-12 09:07

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"They were fired immediately and got no compensation. It's a sort of revenge," said Wen, who had been working at the factory for 10 years.

In a written statement to China Daily, IBM said it had taken disciplinary action against employees who refused to return to work, but declined to disclose the number of workers punished or details of the punishment.

"We are still working hard with the workers to ensure a smooth transfer to Lenovo when the deal closes," said the IBM statement.

IBM said it offered a compensation package to employees who agreed to quit by Wednesday, which the company said is "reasonable" and not "compulsory by Chinese laws".

Workers said the IBM factory offered a more favorable plan on Sunday for workers who agreed to sign a contract before March 12 to stay and work for Lenovo. The plan reportedly offered a bonus of 30,000 yuan ($4,880), half of which would be paid by the end of April and the rest in the first month after Lenovo takes over.

The factory had previously issued a smaller bonus of 6,000 yuan on March 3 with a signatory deadline of March 7. The workers considered the bonus to be insufficient and formed a strike.

The district government, human resources managers and trade unions are working to mediate between IBM management and the factory workers, said Wen Xianqing, a press official at Futian district government.