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HP cuts 520 jobs in France



Following the announcement of Hewlett-Packard’s (HP) management to cut 8000 jobs in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the company has now given some more concrete figures: in France, 520 jobs will be cut until 2014.



The company is hoping for voluntary departures and early retirement to cut 10% of its workforce in France.



Lay offs are planned within HP’s main subsidiaries HP CCF (Competence Centre) and HP France, representing 5 000 workers. Management said that this should be organised only by voluntary departures through a system of early retirement. At the same time, the company has committed to hire 210 young people within 3 years.



Franca Salis Madinier, UNI Europa ICTS President, finds the announced restructuring plans at HP unacceptable: "The reduction of jobs concerns several million employees in Europe (around 10% of HP employees). Moreover, the downsizing happens within a company that turns well and that aims at simply cutting costs. UNI Europa condemns these lay offs driven by the stock market and will cooperate with its affiliates to mobilise workers across Europe."



The French unions will analyse the restructuring plans to protect the remaining workplaces and activities of HP in France. Negotiations to agree on the method of the restructuring are planned for mid-July; consultation with the work councils could take place in September. The first voluntary departures and downsizing is planned for 2013 and 2014.