I am flabbergasted by your reaction. This is the most IBM-like thing I have ever read. I'd be shocked if I wasn't reading this about IBM. You're not going to g

I am flabbergasted by your reaction. This is the most IBM-like thing I have ever read. I'd be shocked if I wasn't reading this about IBM. You're not going to get changes to your employment contract there from negotiating, that's magical thinking. And they will lay you off (sorry, RA you) without a second thought. The answer is "never work for IBM", and if you do, know this will eventually happen to you and plan around it.