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HP in talks with unions ahead of the Big Split-Up

What's better than being a Fortune 50 company? Being two Fortune 50 companies

HP is consulting the local Works Council and trade unions well ahead of the corporate bisection, with its UK organ aiming to be ready to dot the Is and cross the Ts in a little over four months' time.

The British tentacle is understood to be HP's second largest sales territory so getting things running smoothly here is paramount.

Management teams are in place at a global and regional level and the great unwashed will be going through a similar process.

According to loquacious people close to the matter, unionised employees and the local reps are to meet HP to discuss the implications of the break-up.

“HP in all country operations is starting to consult with employee representatives to make sure they are they working through the plans,” an insider told The Channel.

The European Works Council at HP used to act on behalf of staffers, but tore up an agreement with the company after complaining HP failed to properly consult over the 55k job cull.

The separation of the PC-n-print business (to become HP Inc) from the rest of the organisation is effective from 1 November but sources tell us HP UK wants to be ready by early September.

The split is one of the biggest in corporate history and the companies will run separate IT systems while operating costs and revenues will need to be booked appropriately.

The company has already rolled out the Partner Navigator programme last month, as exclusively revealed by us, to minimise disruption to sales as it divides in two. HP admitted to us the ride will get bumpy.

An HP spokeswoman told us the intention to create two separately traded Fortune 50 organisations from the start of November remains unchanged.

“As part of our announced separation plan to create two new Fortune 50 companies we are building a comprehensive plan to ensure that we execute a successful separation with minimal disruption to the business.” ®

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