Unite union condemns HP’s plans to shed a possible 1,600 UK jobs

Trade union Unite has condemned plans by HP to shed 1,600 jobs in the UK - based on the firm's announcement that it is to cut a total of eight per cent of its workforce - claiming they will fight any redundancies.

HP announced the 27,000 job cuts on Wednesday evening at the same time it revealed dwindling profits. Autonomy founder Mike Lynch is the most notable member of the firm to leave.

HP's UK offices are based at Bracknell, Bristol, Derby, Dublin, London, Manchester and Sheffield. The firm confirmed that it was likely the UK would be one of the locations hit, but did not provide any specifics.

"We do expect the workforce reduction to impact just about every business and region. Beyond this we do not have anything else to share at this time," a company representative said.

Unite said that with 20,000 HP employees based in the UK, it believes some 1,600 could be at risk. National officer for IT and communications, Kevin O'Gallagher, said the organisation would do it all it could to stop this happening.

"This is a devastating blow to the technology industry in the UK - a sector we need to develop to create future jobs and growth," he said.

"We will be working with the [Public and Commercial Services] union to use every means possible to protect these vital and high-skilled jobs. We hope to arrange meetings with the senior management, both in the UK and with the global business leaders, as soon as possible to set out our alternatives."

O'Gallagher also said that the cuts were unnecessary as the firm is still profitable and the firm is simply looking to boost is revenues with "scant regard to its loyal and dedicated workforce".