EDS job losses provoke anger
8 October 2008
The announcement follows the takeover of EDS by Hewlett Packard which will result in the loss of 24,600 jobs globally.
"This announcement creates further uncertainty with little or no detail of where the axe will fall and comes as a huge blow to the workforce in a time of economic turmoil." Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary. Photo: Andy Aitchison.
EDS have major contracts with government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions and MoD, leading the union to warn that the delivery of public services could be affected due to the job cuts.
The union which represents over 2,000 EDS staff went on to warn that it would vigorously oppose any moves to impose compulsory redundancies as the company look to cut over one in five the UK’s 15,000 strong workforce.
PCS national officer for EDS, Jim Hanson, said, “Our worst fears have been confirmed. We feared 3,000 job losses for the UK, and the figure is even higher.
"For the last 18 months we have already seen job cuts in EDS with a voluntary redundancy exercise already in progress.
"It is disappointing that these figures have been made public before we have discussed how they have been arrived at.”
General secretary Mark Serwotka added, “This announcement creates further uncertainty with little or no detail of where the axe will fall and comes as a huge blow to the workforce in a time of economic turmoil.
"Our concerns about government IT contracts in the MoD and DWP will not be alleviated by this announcement. It’s not just jobs that are at risk, but the delivery of public services that rely on IT services provided by the former EDS.
"We will be pressing management for more detail and assurances on compulsory redundancies and service levels in this period a massive economic uncertainty.”
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