HP to shed jobs in Britain

Workers at computer giant Hewlett-Packard, which employs thousands of people in Ireland, faced an uncertain future today after it emerged that the company planned to shed 1,400 jobs in Britain.

The cutbacks, which follow the company’s merger two months ago with Compaq, include 650 job losses at its plant in Erskine, Renfrewshire and another 300 elsewhere in the UK.

Hewlett-Packard announced earlier this week that it planned to reduce its European workforce by nearly 6,000, as a result of the merger and the outsourcing of commercial manufacturing.

Unions reacted to the news with shock, branding it ‘‘devastating’’ for workers looking forward to their summer holidays.

Danny Carrigan, Scottish regional secretary of the Amicus union, said: ‘‘We must stem the tide of manufacturing jobs being lost. This is another nail in the coffin of Silicon Glen and is bad news for the Scottish economy.’’

The company, which has sites in London, Reading, Berks and Livingston, said there had been no decision where the other permanent jobs would go.

Hewlett-Packard, which currently employs about 7,600 people in Britain, said it would retain a permanent workforce of about 900 workers at the Renfrewshire plant.

The jobs to be shed comprise 450 full-time and 180 part-time posts.

The company announced a global restructuring programme at the time of the merger to reduce its combined worldwide workforce of 150,000 by 15,000 within its first 18 months of operation.

It said the implementation of any workforce reduction would be subject to prior consultation, starting today.

The company said it deeply regretted the impact of the plans, but said it needed to build a

profitable and sustainable business in the long term.

Human resources manager Ken McQuade said: ‘‘We are really disappointed about this news we have had to pass on at the site today, given the length of time the factory has been here.

‘‘But the site is a very important part of the new company and it will still be a large employer.’’

The Hewlett-Packard losses follow major redundancies in the computer manufacturing sector in Scotland over the past year.

Mobile phone firm Motorola made more than 3,000 members of its workforce redundant when it closed its factory at Bathgate, West Lothian, and NEC Semiconductors lost 600 staff in Livingston.

Scottish manufacturing lost more than a fifth (20.2%) of its output during 2001, according to Fraser of Allander economic think-tank, which is based at Strathclyde University in Glasgow.

Commenting on losses in Erskine, SNP MSP for the West of Scotland Colin Campbell said: ‘‘First I must express my concern for the people of Erskine and the west of Scotland who are about to lose their jobs.

‘‘We were afraid that the link-up between Compaq and Hewlett-Packard might have this effect, and it’s dreadful that this fear has been realised.

‘‘Every effort must be made to save these jobs and support the workforce.

‘‘The Executive must pull out the stops and do all it can to secure jobs, or assist in providing alternative employment.

SNP shadow minister for the economy Andrew Wilson added: ‘‘This latest news of 600 job losses confirms what many independent reports have been saying, and reinforces what the SNP has been saying that as part of the UK, Scotland loses out every time.

The Scottish Executive said it regretted Hewlett-Packard’s decision, but stressed it was part of a programme of worldwide job cuts.

A spokesman said: ‘‘Officials at the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise have been in close contact with the company here and in the US and following today’s announcement will continue to work closely with the company.

‘‘Support will be provided to those affected through specialist response teams who will offer advice, support and guidance in terms of retraining, upskilling and employment opportunities.’’