EUROPE:HP CONDEMNED OVER ' DISGUSTING' JOB-CUTS

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Date: Friday June 5, 2009 03:27:29 pm
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    http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/05/29/hewlett-packard-condemned-over-disgusting-job-cuts-at-scots-plant-86908-21397660/
    Hewlett-Packard condemned over ‘disgusting’ job cuts at Scots plant
    COMPUTER
    giants Hewlett-Packard were slammed last night after confirming they
    are to axe 700 Scottish jobs.All production at their plant in Erskine,
    Renfrewshire, is to stop and the work transferred to the Czech Republic.

    Around 600 staff will be kept on in call centre and service roles.
    Paisley
    and Renfrewshire North Labour MP Jim Sheridan branded the cuts
    “disgusting”.And there was anger among the workers, many of whom only
    learned of the decision after reading yesterday’s Daily Record.The US
    firm say the move is part of restructuring in Europe, the Middle East
    and Africa which will see 5700 jobs lost.It follows the ending of the
    nightshift at Erskine and, in some cases, a five per cent drop in
    workers’ wages.

    The jobs will be shed from February next year.
    Sheridan
    said: “This will be devastating news for those workers and their
    families affected by the announcement who have helped to generate
    pre-tax profits of £5.2billion for HP in 2008.”It effectively means the
    company are abandoning their skilled Scottish workforce to cut costs by
    moving manufacturing to the Czech Republic.”First Minister Alex
    Salmond, in a response at Holyrood to local MSP Trish Godman, said: “A
    substantial number of Hewlett-Packard operations will continue in
    Scotland in terms of supply chain management, customer support and the
    business group headquarters.”Discussions will take place with
    Hewlett-Packard in terms of the protection and, indeed, the enhancement
    of the headquar-terfunctions that will remain in Erskine.”

    Paisley
    South MSP Hugh Henry said: “This is a disgraceful move by a profitable
    company.”I want Alex Salmond to force Hewlett-Packard to face up to
    their responsibility to their workforce and the local community.”I want
    him to examine whether any grants can be reclaimed.”I also want him to
    promise that an emergency task force will be sent in to help workers
    find alternative employment.”One man leaving the plant, Manpower
    employee George Milligan, said: “I’ve been here a year and I don’t know
    what I’ll do now. I assume the jobs are going to the Czech Republic
    because it’s cheap labour.”

    HP spokesman Gary Allden said
    contracts were being “outsourced” to a manufacturing base in the Czech
    Republic.He added: “In keeping with governing local law and established
    practice, HP will consult employee representatives in the countries
    affected by the proposal on the conditions for the implementation of
    the restructuring measures.”These local consultations are expected to
    start in the second half of June 2009

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