Latest on Compaq Europe – talks go on

French and Germans resisting cuts

As we went to press late today, we heard more about the putative redundancies at Compaq France and Germany, and more, too about revised Ts&Cs worldwide. A representative phoned The Register and told us that the works councils in Germany and France were actively resisting the layoffs. France and Germany have different (better?) labour laws than the UK and it is now unlikely there will be layoffs on the scale we suggested last week. Indeed, there is the possibility of strikes in Compaq Europe because of the proposals, the representative suggested. Meanwhile, in the USA, Compaq is pressing ahead with its plans to change Ts&Cs for top distributors, with Avnet in its line of site. Compaq UK is taking a distinctly Blighty view and is resisting the corporate dictat, we are given to understand. ®