PCS: Hewlett Packard staff go on strike over pay and job cuts

Thursday, 21 January 2010 12:00 AM

Over 1,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), working for Hewlett Packard (HP) Enterprise Services, will be taking part in a one day strike tomorrow (22 Jan) after talks to resolve a dispute over pay and job losses broke down.

The one day stoppage involves UK HP staff across four sites working mainly on IT contracts for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as well as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and General Motors.

There has been growing anger amongst staff since HP took over EDS in August 2008 with 3,400 staff already axed across the UK. Staff have been further angered by the imposition of a pay freeze last year and for 2010 despite the company delivering fourth quarter revenues of 30.8 billion dollars.

Added to this, HP staff now face added job insecurity with further a 1,000 job losses planned for the first four months of this year.

Those taking part in the one day strike also include staff working for HP Enterprise Services in Newcastle, Washington, Preston and the Fylde Coast.

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "Strike action is not a step that our members take lightly. They have worked hard to help the company deliver fourth quarter revenues of 30.8 billion dollars yet have been slapped in the face with job losses and a pay freeze for two years running. It is disgraceful that staff should be treated in such a way as they shoulder greater workloads to help generate good profit levels. The company need to start valuing staff and recognise the crucial part they play in its success by giving guarantees on job security and a fair pay rise."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 020 7801 2820 or 07833 978216.

PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union is the union representing civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies. It also represents workers in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich.

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