News

PC manufacturer HP has taken over the IT service provider EDS. The new company has now 210.000 employees in over 80 countries. As a consequence of the takeover HP announced that it will cut more than 24.000 jobs over the next three years, which is almost 8 % of the entire workforce. It is also expected that benefits will be retrenched.

Trade unions in HP and EDS have challenged the economic necessity of the lay offs and cut backs. In letters to HP CEO Mark Hurd, unions members from all over the world protest against the announced measures.

The UNI World Executive, representing 20 million workers in over 900 trade unions in 145 countries,

- denounces the job and benefits cuts announced by HP

- supports the action day planned by HP and EDS trade union on 13 November

- requests HP management to:



- provide full information and proper consultation with the trade union/employee representative bodies;

- recognise the employees’ right to bargain collectively and to negotiate social plans;

- stop any compulsory redundancies;

- provide a detailed plan for redeployment and re-skilling for those whose jobs are at risk and prepare for anticipated skills shortages;

- create the conditions for the establishment of a new EWC to be built on the best elements and practices of the existing EWCs.