HP begins European jobs chop

Consultation begins

HP is beginning consultations on cutting nearly six thousand European jobs.

It has given its restructuring plan to the European Works Council, which represents staff, and detailed where in Europe, and in HP, the jobs will go.

HP is cutting 5,700 positions from its total European staff of 80,000.

The statement said: "In keeping with governing local law and established practice, HP will consult with employee representatives in the countries affected by the proposal on the conditions for the implementation of the restructuring measures. These local consultations are expected to start second half of June 2009."

The statement confirmed this morning's news that it is moving EMEA enterprise, storage and server jobs from Germany and Scotland to a partner firm in the Czech Republic.

A spokesman for HP said: "In total it is 840 jobs in the UK and Germany, 700 in the UK of which 80 are permanent. We've met with the workers representatives and European Workers Council and we've also briefed all staff at Erskine and in Germany. Reaction was neutral, a lot of people understood the sites were under-utilised and the products they make are becoming commoditised. We hope the consultation will be complete by February but it depends on the council signing off our plans."®