Rappresentanza Sindacale Unitaria IBM Vimercate (RSU), the trade worker's union representing IBM's 9,000 staff in Italy are planning industrial action. It's not really clear if the the action planned is a virtual picketing or will be a virtual picketing accompanying a real strike.
The dispute is apparently over failed negotiations for better pay and conditions. The RSU feels that both of these are substandard. We contacted an IBM staffer in Second Life from IBM (USA) to see if they'd heard any more details. They hadn't, but offered, "Well, we are big on innovation (although this probably isn't the kind of innovation that the Board of Directors is looking for). I personally doubt that picketing in SL will do much more than generate a few more press releases than normal picketing would, but I'll be very interested in seeing how it goes."
The reaction from Second Life users seems to be one of tolerant amusement as well as interest, mingled with hopes of a good and entertaining show.
[Via The Register]
1. The whole goal of picketing is to raise awareness of your cause. If these guys picket in SL and go on strike in meatspace, considering how newsworthy SL is at the moment, this will bring the Italian tech workers a TON of publicity, which means management will cave that much faster.
-----
Ron
http://www.flektor-blog.com
Posted at 1:33PM on Aug 24th 2007 by Hollywood Ron