HP staff take action on payments

MORE than 150 Hewlett Packard workers yesterday began a work-to-rule over what they allege is the company’s failure to pay them properly.

The workers, based at the computer company’s plant in Clonskeagh, work on the Bank of Ireland account.

The industrial action means they will not carry out overtime functions or provide any technical support if systems break down outside working hours.

That could affect a number of systems including ATM facilities.

Larry Broderick of the Irish Bank Officials’ Association (IBOA), which represents most of the workers, said it was not its intention to directly affect the bank or its customers.

However, the union has a mandate for all-out strike action and may start it if its demands are not met.

There has been industrial disharmony ever since the IT function at Bank of Ireland was outsourced to HP.

The IBOA said an agreement was reached on better terms and conditions for workers when they transferred to HP. It said the pay increases were made in 2005, but not in 2006.

Mr Broderick said: “We asked for the matter to be brought to the Labour Relations Commission [LRC] but the company refused.”

When it finally did go to the LRC yesterday the matter was not resolved.

HP said it was disappointed at the outcome of the LRC talks and regretted the IBOA’s decision to proceed with industrial action.

“HP has sought to progress the matter to resolution... but the company remains available for discussion,” said a HP spokesman.