#solidarity

Who supports a day of protest. On Oct 30th, lets get as many employees as possible to take the day off across the world.

Who is interested?

I didn’t get laid off. That’s my crime.

I’m still here in Bangalore — bleary-eyed at 2 a.m., staring into the blue glow of another Zoom call. The Americans on mute, the managers on script, the executives smiling from Spring, Texas, while delivering the latest sermon: “This is not a layoff. This is transformation.”

And I nod along. Because nodding is safer than questioning. Survival in this machine doesn’t mean performing well, or collaborating, or innovating. It means parroting the story exactly as it’s handed down. No edits. No hesitation. Clap when they clap. Smile when they smile. Pretend the slogans mean something when we all know they don’t.

On the anonymous forums, I read the curses: “Damn Indians.” “They took our jobs.” “Outsourcing ki-led us.”
And in that moment, I become the villain. Not an engineer, not a human, not a man with a family. Just a placeholder: cheap labor, offshore body, the thief in someone else’s story.

But here’s the punchline: I didn’t ki-l anyone’s job. Neither did the guy three floors above me or the coder across town pulling a night shift with chai and instant noodles. The true executioners sit higher up. Senior management writes the script. Middle management enforces it.

Middle managers — ah, the great priests of ExxonMobil. They don’t believe in the gospel, but they chant it anyway. They gather us in Zoom town halls and deliver the holy lines:
• “This is about efficiency.”
• “This is how we stay competitive.”
• “We must all align with leadership messaging.”

Then they turn off their cameras, go back to their spreadsheets, and quietly decide which “asset” is expendable.

And the rest of us clap. Because clapping is mandatory.

The truth is uglier than the curses: Americans blame Indians. Indians blame themselves. But the real game is higher. We are not colleagues anymore, just chess pieces moved to satisfy a curve, a cost target, a shareholder’s smile.

So yes, blame me if you must. Curse me for still having a job. But know this: tomorrow it might be some place else. Or an algorithm. The villain will always be whoever management points to, as long as the real architects stay untouched.

ExxonMobil says: Energy Lives Here.
But after this round of
sermons, we all know the translation:
Truth does not. Empathy does not. Only messaging does.

So come November we have to do 3 days a week in the office. We must work together. Either a) none of us return to office or b) we all return at the office at the same times and really overwhelm the sites. The cafeteria can’t feed us all and there are not enough desks. What do you guys think

What is about to happen is part of a global strategy to reduced headcount and move our Canadian jobs to Houston and the BTC. ExxonMobil still wants our oil and has plans to increase production and develop Aspen plus other assets. If they want our oil, the jobs should be here. We may not be able to do much, but we can make it harder. Write to Smith, Carney, even Brian Jean and APEGA. It may not stop them, but it could make them think twice or slow them down, which is worth a try.

Employees on the private Facebook groups are talking about doing it in rememberance.

I've seen so many posts on here that seem to rally against the DE&I efforts at the firm. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion should be a good thing! The issue which I think is often misconstrued on here (and yes there are quite a few bigots on this platform as well) is that there are so many people at the firm that appear to be FAKE when it comes to DE&I.

Some people keep trying to make it an age thing but it’s not. We’re all in the same boat. The divide is between us and the execs who make the calls. They’re playing with our livelihoods while all of us are just trying to get through the week and still have a job at the end of it.

Is anyone tired of constant rejection? Favoritism? Unethical and ineffective hiring? Bullsh-t run around? Mental health decline due to stress of job and unknown? Can we all stand together and sue? How does this work? How do we do it? Anyone have thoughts or ideas?? I’m so serious about this.

I know its been said here many times and I know people do not have enough gumption or unity to do it but the only thing and I mean the only things that brings these useless ba----ds to their knees is a union. It is what they were designed to do. I hate them but I think the time is coming again for them to start gaining traction. The workforce today does not have any say or a fair shot at decent treatment by their employer. I hate it when people on here say go find another job. For most that is not an option because the system has become so rigged and it's all the same scam regardless. Age discrimination, AI screening job applications, DEI, and just all the other barriers they have put up. All the Execs work together in step...the worker just hasn't gotten smart enough to do it in places like SF, AT&T, Chase, etc... Amazon workers are trying and so are Starbucks but face hurdles with the big shots trying to subvert them at every turn. I think if only a handful of people would genuinely approach it with co-workers most would get on board. I know just wishful thinking. It would bring an end to their reign of te---r on the American worker.

Being laid off right now, when everybody is letting people go and nobody is hiring is scary as fu--ing he-l. I've been trying to find something for the past few months assuming something like this might happen and I had no luck. I truly hope they have better luck and land something right away.

Just getting through the day any way you can doesn’t mean you’re lazy. Constant stress and endless expectations grind you down until even simple tasks feel impossible. It’s the environment wearing you out, not your drive. If there’s a chance to step away or change paths, take it, your health and energy are worth protecting.

Merck Millipore technicians start industrial action after pay cut claims
Merck Millipore
News
/ 19th August 2025 /
George Morahan
Technicians at the Merck Millipore plants in Co Cork have commenced industrial action after the company implemented changes to pay and conditions.

The Connect trade union said some of its members employed at the life sciences equipment supplier's Carrigtwohill and Blarney plants were subject to pay cuts of up to 20 per cent.

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Merck Millipore has denied there has been any "unilateral changes" to terms and conditions including salary as claimed by Connect.

"Our members were left with no alternative other than commencing industrial action after the company unilaterally changed terms and conditions. This included the cutting of 20 per cent in pay from maintenance technicians at the Blarney site," said Mark Dobyn, regional secretary for Connect.

“We have reached out to local management a number of times to engage on the changes being sought. However, the company has completely refused to engage with our Union and unilaterally changed our members' employment conditions without any proper consultation. This is a completely unacceptable situation.”

Business Bulletin

Dobyn said that staff taking industrial action would not cooperate with the company on a number of fronts and would not attend meetings with management.

“Both our Union and SIPTU have sought to use the industrial relations machinery of the state to resolve these workers' difficulties with their employer. This included a successful Labour Court case which resulted in a recommendation that the company should engage with our Unions as our members have demanded," said Paddy Kavanagh, general secretary at Connect.

“This situation once again illustrates the issues with workers’ right to union organisation and representation in Ireland.

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"Our members will now seek to achieve the respect they deserve from their employer through the intelligent use of industrial action.

"If this does not achieve the necessary results, we will back our members in whatever escalation they decide upon.”

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In a statement, Merck confirmed that it was served with notice of industrial action by Connect on Friday, August 1, and that action had commenced on Monday Monday (August 18).

Merck Millipore
Technicians at Merck Millipore have commenced industrial action.
"Merck operates a long-standing policy of direct engagement with its employees and remains committed to continuing this dialogue.

"The company’s focus is on constructive internal engagements with colleagues to reach a fair resolution of any workplace concerns."

Wishing you the best of luck. It’s starting to feel more and more like silent layoffs may be underway. Hoping for clarity soon. Take care, everyone.

Microsoft can have a union too. So what's stopping people? #solidarity

https://alphabetworkersunion.org/

Meta can have a union too. Or folks can complain and see what happens. #solidarity

https://alphabetworkersunion.org/