IBM UK mainframe workers train their replacements

Found on The Register on Saturday, 02 July 2005
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If you're one of IBM UK's highly skilled mainframe specialists, then you may well be out of a job. IBM has shuffled a huge chunk of its mainframe support operations off to South Africa in a bid to cut costs. As a result, some of IBM's highest profile customers will find their critical mainframe support calls traveling south to a staff who recently spent just over 30 days in the UK learning the ropes.

Specifically, the South Africans were trained to handle IBM's MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage) - aka mainframe operating system - support. The workers were taught by the very people they would soon replace.

IBM won't reveal the customers affected, but our source sent a shortlist of the initial clients that will likely see their support go to Johannesburg. The list includes the likes of AT&T, ATM, Bradford and Bingley, Equifax, Heinz, Next, Royal Sun Alliance, Scottish Power, Certegy and Diageo.

If I had to train my replacement, I'd tell my boss exactly where to shove it. Either they keep me, or fire me instantly; but I wouldn't dig my own grave.