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Unions urge under-fire HP workers to 'resist' job cuts

Attempts to protect 1,600 UK staff ... not including Lynch

Unite and the Public Services Commercial (PCS) unions will form a tag team to "use every means possible" to safeguard the jobs of 1,600 HP UK employees under risk of redundancy.

The tech monster revealed late last night that it is hitting the eject button for 27,000 workers worldwide – including Autonomy founder Mike Lynch – by the end of 2014.

As a result, Unite estimates that around 8 per cent of the 20,000 strong UK workforce are under threat – 4,500 of which are Unite members.

"This is a devastating blow to the technology sector in the UK: a sector we need to develop to create future jobs and growth," said Kevin O'Gallagher, national officer for IT and comms at Unite.

"We will be working with the PCS union to use every means to protect these vital and high-skilled jobs. We hope to arrange meeting with the senior management, both in the UK and with the global leaders," he added.

Gallagher pointed out that HP remains a highly profitable organ that is using cost cuts to increase profits, "while showing scant regard" to its army of employees.

PCS officer Peter Olech, issued a rallying call for brothers working in the HP chapel to get organised to "resist such attacks on jobs and conditions".

“We are prepared to send an unequivocal message to Hewlett-Packard that job cuts and compulsory redundancies will be resisted with every tool at our disposal, including industrial action if necessary," he added. ®

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