Apparently Rappresentanza Sindacale Unitaria IBM Vimercate (RSU), which represents 9,000 workers at computer company IBM in Italy, is taking action to put pressure on the firm as part of a pay dispute.

Unfortunately, the only published information in English about the campaign appears to have been translated by a computer, and bears very little resemblance to any known language. To quote:

"It seems that the reasons for this first virtual strike are related to the renew of the internal agreement. While IBM is one of the company with major profits, its employees are receiving very few fruits of this big mountain of money."

The union is inviting supporters to sign up to find out more, and to get to grips with how the 3D online digital world at Second Life works before the start date of 12 September, so that they can send their avatars to join the picket line at IBM's virtual building.

Having emailed Davide Barillari at the RSU, I can also reveal that:

"We have an international taskforce that is working to organize this initiative. We are meeting many times in SL to discuss and manage technical/political and cultural problems...it's not easy but we are near to the end.
All the details will be given in the next days...it's all confidential.
As u can understand, we have the attention of all world and we know that IBM is really worried. This is a first big result."

He says that the union is currently training its members at IBM to use Second Life, and promises that the strike will be "really impressive and effective".

No doubt someone at IBM will come up with the idea of offering a virtual pay rise.