HP and EDS unions will go further!
UNI-Europa and the EMF organized a gathering of HP and EDS European trade unions on December 8th in Brussels to evaluate the situation within the two companies that are suffering a harsh restructuring process after HP’s takeover of EDS last May.
Feedback from countries that participated in the first European wide action day at HP and EDS on November 13th was highly positive. Despite high mobilization, the company did not change its position however. In replying to a letter sent by both EMF and UNI’s general secretaries, the Human Resources vice-president of the company simply said that they would go on consulting with EWCs and employees’ representatives.
This attitude is certainly unacceptable and growing disappointment is taking place among the workforce of the two firms. HP’s employees certainly do not understand why their social benefits are cut while the company is in a very good financial situation and expects increasing benefits. On top of that, management does not reduce its own bonuses and high pay to secure credibility as they did in the past.
At EDS, workers are extremely worried about their future since the company announced that the majority of the 9,330 European layoffs will hurt former EDS employees. Nonetheless, management still refuses to communicate the figures regarding future redundancies and the way they will implement the restructuring plan in each country affected. But management has said that the process which was initially foreseen to last two years will be shortened to a period of three months!
Unions call for a new period of national movements early next year that will lead to another common European action day later on in order to protest against the unacceptable conditions faced by HP and EDS employees.
They also call for meaningful information and consultation processes which will pave the way for acceptable solutions for all workers.
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Press 38/2008
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry.
UNI-Europa is the European trade union organisation for skills and services.
For further information please contact:
Isabelle Barthès, EMF Policy Advisor on Company Policy +32(0)2 227 10 12
Gerd Rohde, UNI-Europa + 41 792 02 19 28
