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HP hit with another strike

HP CDS becomes department of no work and less pensions

More industrial unrest is threatening HP, where another union today announced that its members will strike.

Unite said it will organise a walkout, involving about 100 staff, on 7 December. Yesterday, the Public and Commercial Services Union said its members working on Department of Work and Pensions contracts for HP (the division formerly know as EDS) will strike on 10 December.

The Unite dispute surrounds the transfer of 150 workers from HP to HP CDS, a subsidiary company.

The union accuses HP of "taking advantage of weaknesses in current employment legislation to remove pay and pension benefits, including a performance bonus scheme worth up to £2000 and the final salary pension scheme".

Members last month voted by a 77 per cent majority to walk out over the row.

Unite south west regional officer Andy McDowall said: "The members have had an irreplaceable pension benefit removed by a cash rich employer when they had every opportunity to allow it to continue. To add insult to injury, they have also removed our members’ contractual bonus arrangements, resulting in a further cut in wages.

"This dispute would be relatively easy to resolve, if HP would agree to sit down and talk with us. We urge them to return to the negotiating table."

Unite members also plan to refuse to do overtime and will work to rule from 4 January. Two further two-day strikes and a five-day strike are planned for January and February.

HP has previously claimed the strike will not have any impact on customers. ®

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