14 DAY TRIAL // It seems Intel isn't the only one being accused of unsavory practices. Hewlett-Packard, however, is implied to be using foul play against its own employees, or at least that's what the HP United Kingdom Unite union members claim.
"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.
The workers are unwilling to accept being transferred to the HP subsidiary HP CDS, a move that, according to them, will spare the company the necessity to pay the owed final salary pension and the performance bonus scheme of up to £2,000. The pro strike vote was quite overwhelming, with no less than 77% going for an all-out strike, while 85% suggested a form of industrial manifest.
Naturally, this strike might lead to certain disruptions in the areas of maintenance, although the enterprise claimed no such situation would occur. Nevertheless, the company will try to resolve the issue without any form of action, although, at this point, that seems unlikely.
"In the event of any local industrial action, we would not expect any interference in service," an HP spokesperson added in an email statement sent to ZDNet UK on Thursday. "In co-operation with our clients and the involvement of our company-wide global delivery capabilities, we will take the necessary measures to deliver the services that our clients require."
"The company respects the decision of the 98 employees that have voted in favor of local industrial action," the statement continues. "We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the union in an attempt to avoid any form of action."
Peter Skyte, Unite national officer for IT and communications, believes, on the other hand, that this will probably not be the last such situation. "This is likely to be the first of more industrial action[s] in 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 at primarily enriching its senior executives."
Skyte may be referring to the possibility that HP workers in the public sector will strike at the Department of Work and Pensions. In this case, the decision will be taken by November 30 through a voting ballot.