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PCS, the largest UK union in the IT company EDS, today expressed fears that over 3,000 jobs could be cut in Britain as a result of the takeover of the company by Hewlett Packard (HP).

The fears follow an announcement by HP to cut 24,600 jobs globally, leading the union to warn that it would vigorously oppose any moves to impose compulsory redundancies.

EDS have major contracts with government departments, including DWP and MoD, and recently attracted attention because of a loss of prison officers’ data.

Echoing calls from unions across Europe and the UK, PCS expressed concern at the lack of information that was forthcoming from the new owners.

With thousands of jobs to go globally, the union expressed fears that more than one in five of the UK’s 15,000 strong workforce could lose their job.

PCS national officer Jim Hanson said: “EDS have slimmed down the workforce over the last 18 months, and there’s no fat left to trim.

"HP‘s track record is to cut jobs when they take over a business, and we don’t expect anything different here. Not only are we concerned about our members’ job security, but also the threat to the security of government data which would result if staff are cut further.”

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, added: “One of the dangers of privatisation is that government contracts can be bought and sold without any say from MPs.

It’s not just former civil servants’ jobs that are at risk, but the delivery of public services that rely on IT services provided by the former EDS.

 

"HP are getting massive DWP and defence contracts without having to go through a tendering process. It’s not just former civil servants’ jobs that are at risk, but the delivery of public services that rely on IT services provided by the former EDS.

"There is great uncertainty across the workforce, which is being fuelled by the company’s unwillingness to engage with the unions. The company need to provide assurances over job security in this period a massive economic uncertainty.”