Unite condemns HP’s announcement to sack 24,600 staff
16 September 2008
Unite, the UK’s largest union, has today (Tuesday, 16th
September) condemned Hewlett Packard’s (HP) announcement that it
intends to shed 24,600 staff globally in a restructuring
programme.
Peter Skyte, Unite National Officer, said: “We urge HP to provide a
detailed plan for the re-structuring programme and we will push for
redeployment and re-skilling of the existing workforce in the event
of re-organisation, as has been done previously in EDS.
“Unite are not against change, but we will oppose any compulsory
redundancies. We will closely monitor the impact of this proposal
announced by HP and take all possible steps to safeguard the
interests of our members and the workforce.
“We will be seeking an urgent meeting with HP management to find
out exactly what the company’s intentions are. To date we are
dissatisfied with the lack of information provided by HP and
EDS.”
Unite met with over 40 other European union representatives from 9
countries in Brussels in advance of this expected re-structuring
announcement. This announcement follows HP’s takeover of EDS and
was predicted by the unions to contain details of substantial job
cuts in the UK and worldwide.
HP has offices in Belfast, Birmingham, Bracknell, Bristol, Derby,
Erskine, London and Warrington.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact Peter Skyte on 07768 931 302
or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 7420 8914 or
07980 224761.
