PCS: Hewlett Packard staff on strike for second day

Tuesday, 9 March 2010 12:00 AM

Over 1,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), working for Hewlett Packard (HP) Enterprise Services, were on strike today in the second day of a 48 hour stoppage over pay and job losses.

The two day stoppage, which is separate from the 48 hour national civil service strike, 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 the failure by the employer to make a meaningful offer to resolve the dispute in a series of meetings convened by ACAS.

Added to this, HP staff now face added job insecurity with a further 1,000 job losses planned for the first four months of this year. The dispute is being supported by PCS members working on standard contracts who are demanding the right to opt in to collective bargaining arrangements.

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

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "HP staff have worked hard to help the company deliver billions of dollars in revenues 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 all 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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