When a private company- even a Goliath such as IBM (NYSE: IBM) – receives a personal letter attacking corporate policy changes from two U.S. senators, the “suits” in the executive suites take notice.

These senators wield a great deal of power. They can call hearings. They can work the Washington, D.C. bureaucracy to twist policy, maybe even affect contracts.

So when Ginny Rometty, chairman and chief executive officer of IBM, opened her mail last week and saw the letter signed by Bernard Sanders and Patrick Leahy, she had to at least read its contents with interest.

The two Vermont senators are upset with IBM about recently made changes in 401(K) plans for employees.

The letter, as obtained by the Alliance@IBM, the union seeking to represent Big Blue workers, is direct, powerful – and short.

“Our Strong Concerns”

One page filled with criticism of IBM and its personnel policies toward U.S. workers.

It notes that IBM has cut its U.S. work force “by nearly half” over the last decade.

The change in the 401(K) plans means employees not only aren’t receiving matching funds biweekly but only annually – and only if they are on the payroll as of Dec. 15 each year.

Here’s the letter, dated Feb. 25:

“Dear Mrs. Rometty:

“We are writing to express our strong concerns with recent changes in IBM’s match and automatic contribution to employees’ 401(K) Plus and Excess 401(K) Plus plans. We respectfully request that IBM review this decision and reinstate matching funds on a biweekly basis as soon as possible.

“Over the last decade IBM has greatly reduced pension benefits for tens of thousands of loyal and hardworking employees, despite the fact that the same period yielded 40 consecutive quarters of growth in earnings per share from the previous year. Given IBM’s reported earnings in 2012, this most recent decision to terminate biweekly contributions in favor of one annual payment at year’s end seems severe.

“In the last decade IBM has cut its U.S. workforce by nearly half. Due to this policy change, employees who leave for any reason other than retirement or who are laid off before December 15 will not receive any annual contribution from IBM to their 401(K) plans. As is consistent with dollar-cost averaging, employees will also lose a year of interest which could have been gained by these contributions.

“If this change remains, we are concerned that IBM will benefit greatly at the expense of thousands of loyal employees in Vermont and across the country. When a company makes a promise to its employees regarding their pension, it must not renege on those commitments by cutting or deferring their retirement benefits, especially when employees who have worked at IBM the longest have already seen their benefits reduced. Given that reality, we respectfully request that you reconsider this policy.

“Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to receiving your prompt response.”

(signatures)

The Skinny wonders if any IBMers in North Carolina have reached out to their senators for support.

Maybe if IBMers across the country could convince their senators to join Leahy and Sanders in bringing pressure on the company the policy could be reversed.

[IBM ARCHIVE: Check out more than a decade of IBM stories as reported in WRAL Tech Wire.]