PCS: Union condemns EDS job losses
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Wednesday, 08, Oct 2008 12:00
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the largest UK union in IT company EDS, condemned today’s announcement by EDS and Hewlett Packard (HP) that they would cut the UK workforce by 3,378 posts over the next two years.
The announcement follows the takeover of EDS by Hewlett Packard which will result in the loss of 24,600 jobs globally. EDS have major contracts with government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions and MoD, leading the union to warn that the delivery of public services could be affected due to the job cuts.
The union which represents over 2,000 EDS staff went on to warn that it would vigorously oppose any moves to impose compulsory redundancies as the company look to cut over one in five the UK’s 15,000 strong workforce.
PCS national officer for EDS, Jim Hanson, said, “Our worst fears have been confirmed. We feared 3,000 job losses for the UK, and the figure is even higher. For the last 18 months we have already seen job cuts in EDS with a voluntary redundancy exercise already in progress. It is disappointing that these figures have been made public before we have discussed how they have been arrived at.”
General secretary Mark Serwotka added, “This announcement creates further uncertainty with little or no detail of where the axe will fall and comes as a huge blow to the workforce in the time of economic turmoil. Our concerns about government IT contracts in the MoD and DWP will not be alleviated by this announcement. It’s not just jobs that are at risk, but the delivery of public services that rely on IT services provided by the former EDS. We will be pressing management for more detail and assurances on compulsory redundancies and service levels 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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