Unite begins first ever industrial action ballot at HP over
transfer of customer engineer jobs
27th October 2009
Unite, the largest union in the UK, has begun an industrial
action ballot covering 150 customer engineers and support
specialists at the HP (Hewlett Packard) IT services company. The
workers are home based and operate across the UK.
The union has served seven days notice to the company of the
ballot which will begin on 28th October. The ballot result is
expected to be available in the middle of November.
Workers being transferred to another HP company (HP CDS) on 1st
November are angry because the company is removing pay and pension
benefits, including a performance bonus scheme worth up to £2,000
and a final salary pension scheme.
This is the first time HP employees in the UK have been asked to
vote on industrial action and follows an overwhelming vote for
industrial action amongst the workers in a consultative ballot
carried out earlier this month.
Peter Skyte, Unite national officer, said: "Our members face
cuts to their pay and pensions and have no choice other than to
begin an industrial action ballot. This is the latest in a series
of attacks by the company on our members' pay and conditions, while
senior executives and shareholders do very well indeed.
"Unite remains willing to seek a resolution to this dispute with
HP but not on the basis that one employee’s pay cut results in a HP
executive’s pay and bonus increase.”
HP employs around 18,000 people in the UK.
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315
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