I don't get it. Nothing has changed. IBM has being acting like this for or at least the last 5 years. Although I sympathize to all effected, every year employees come on to this board in seemingly denial. What did you expect was going to happen?
There is absolutely no future at IBM if you are over 40 and working in the USA, UK and many other western "high pay" countries.
Whether it will happen this year, next year or the sometime in the near future ... one thing is for sure. It will happen and you will be laid off. IBM employees - wake up and don't become a victim.