HP workers vote for strike action

HP is accused of treating workers with 'contempt'

Unite members at HP in the UK have voted in favour of a strike over changes to jobs and pay.

Unite said that HP had treated its employees with "contempt" by removing pay and pension benefits along with a bonus scheme.

The union claimed that over three-quarters of its members at HP had voted " overwhelmingly" for strike action, or action short of a strike.

"Unite members have been angered by the company treating them with contempt over a business transfer on 1 November to another HP company [HP CDS], and taking the opportunity of weaknesses in current employment legislation to remove pay and pension benefits, including a performance bonus scheme worth up to £2,000 and a final salary pension scheme," Unite said in a statement.

Senior representatives at Unite will meet HP next week to decide the timing and type of action to take. The union said that HP had failed to make any attempt to address the issues that its members were raising.

Peter Skyte, Unite national officer for IT and communications, warned of the possibility of more action to come, and called on HP to make some changes.

"The overwhelming vote for strike action demonstrates the strength and depth of feeling among Unite members," he said.

"This is likely to be the first of more industrial action at HP unless the company rethinks its policy of attacking the terms and conditions of its workforce as a sacrificial offering on the altar of stock exchange-driven short-term financial targets aimed primarily at enriching its senior executives. "

A strike by Unite members at Fujitsu was halted at the 11th hour earlier this month.