PCS: Union fears over 3,000 job losses in EDS

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Wednesday, 17, Sep 2008 12:00

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the largest UK union in the IT company EDS, today expressed fears that over 3,000 jobs could be cut in Britain as a result of the takeover of the company by Hewlett Packard (HP).

The fears follow an announcement by HP to cut 24,600 jobs globally, leading the union to warn that it would vigorously oppose any moves to impose compulsory redundancies.

EDS have major contracts with government departments, including DWP and MoD, and recently attracted attention because of a loss of prison officers’ data.

Echoing calls from unions across Europe and the UK, PCS expressed concern at the lack of information that was forthcoming from the new owners.

With thousands of jobs to go globally, the union expressed fears that more than one in five of the UK’s 15,000 strong workforce could lose their job.

PCS national officer Jim Hanson said: “EDS have slimmed down the workforce over the last 18 months, and there’s no fat left to trim. HP‘s track record is to cut jobs when they take over a business, and we don’t expect anything different here. Not only are we concerned about our members’ job security, but also the threat to the security of government data which would result if staff are cut further.”

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, added: “One of the dangers of privatisation is that government contracts can be bought and sold without any say from MPs. HP are getting massive DWP and defence contracts without having to go through a tendering process. It’s not just former civil servants’ jobs that are at risk, but the delivery of public services that rely on IT services provided by the former EDS. There is great uncertainty across the workforce, which is being fuelled by the company’s unwillingness to engage with the unions. The company need to provide assurances over job security in this period a massive economic uncertainty.”

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.

* PCS represents 2,000 people working for EDS.

Alex Flynn

National Press Officer

Public and Commercial Services Union

160 Falcon Rd

London SW11 2LN

Direct line: 020 7801 2747

Mobile: 07833 978 216

Fax: 020 7924 1847

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