Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 20, 1994 TAG: 9408220093
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Short
The Times in Friday's editions cited a memo sent over IBM's internal electronic mail network on Monday advising employees to write to their lawmakers in opposition to the health-care proposals.
It was believed to be the first memo of its kind for the company, which has a tradition of keeping politics out of its communications with employees.
The memo, the Times said, came from the company's vice chairman, Paul J. Rizzo, with the approval of Chairman Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Rizzo advised employees to send lawmakers a message he had written opposing the measures, which were proposed by Sen. George Mitchell and Rep. Richard Gephardt.
The Times said the message read in part: ``The Mitchell and Gephardt bills pose a serious threat to my company's ability to manage and control the cost and quality of these benefits,'' a reference to medical benefits for employees.
Rizzo said he was against the bills for several reasons, including a provision allowing the states to establish their own rules and health-care systems. Such a system could lead to the end of IBM benefits and require workers to get benefits from state government-run systems, he said.
IBM spokesman Scott Brooks said Rizzo had received more than 4,000 electronic responses to the message, the vast majority of which sought more information. Most employees applauded the company's stance, Brooks said, but some felt the message was a breach of IBM etiquette.
by CNB