Mr. Mark HURDPresident Hewlett Packard
3000Hannover Street
Palo Alto
CA93304 – 1185
USA
Brussels, 20th October 2008
Dear M. Hurd,
Re: HP/EDS workforce reductions in Europe
We are writing to you, as European trade union federations representing the HP/EDS workforce across Europe, and following meetings on 8 September and 15 October attended by both union and European Works Council representatives from 10 countries.
Our position is as follows:
- HP/EDS management should ensure that it meets its obligations to provide full information and proper consultation with the trade union/employee representative bodies both at European and national levels. It has failed to do this so far at European level.
- HP/EDS management should recognise the employees’ right to bargain collectively and enter into negotiations on the social consequences of their planned decision.
- HP/EDS management should not proceed with any compulsory redundancies/layoffs.
- HP/EDS management should provide a detailed plan for redeployment and re-skilling of the existing workforce in order to fill current and anticipated skills shortages as an alternative to redundancies in this reorganisation.
- HP/EDS management should create the conditions for the establishment of a new EWC which will capitalize on the best practices of each EWC agreement.
The trade unions will not accept that HP and EDS merge in order to downsize. They want the new combined company to say where and how it will grow and how this will benefit its employees.
Accordingly we would appreciate your commitment to provide the following:
- Full financial information on the savings HP/EDS wishes to make across Europe
- Full employment information for the next 3 years, including the total employee number for each year across Europe and broken down per individual countries
A detailed presentation on the future goals and development plans across Europe
The European Commission is currently reviewing the European works council Directive. We believe that the lack of full and meaningful information and consultation by HP/EDS with the trade union/employee representative bodies at European level is a glaring example of why there is a need for the EWC Directive to be strengthened.
We do hope that you will arrange for the information set out in paragraphs (a) to (c) above to be made available, by 7 November where possible.
You should understand that we are currently considering HP as a potential case to be raised with the European Commission and the European Parliament, as an example of why the European Directive needs strengthening. This is a will inevitably expose HP to unwelcome publicity.
We trust that such actions will not be necessary and look forward to your early response.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Scherrer Bernadette Ségol
EMF General Secretary UNI-Europa Regional Secretary
International Trade Union House (ITUH)Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5 (bte 10)B-1210 Brussels
Tel: +32/(0)2/227 10 10
Fax: +32/(0)2/217 59 63
http://www.emf-fem.org/ ▪ emf@emf-fem.org
UNI-Europa
31, rue de l’Hôpital
b-1000 Brussels
Tel : +32 2 234 56 56
Fax : +32 2 235 08 70
http://www.uni-europa.org/
More information in the comments about EDS +HP employees from Germany and Italy in action again (picture above from Germany). Massive European Action Day : Novembrer 13th
6 commentaires:
Press Release
International Trade Union House (ITUH)
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5 (bte 10)
B-1210 Brussels
Tel: +32/(0)2/227 10 10
EMF PR Unit: Caroline Jacobsson & Linda Rackham Fax: +32/(0)2/217 59 63
cjacobsson@emf-fem.org
17th October 2008
Press Information ▪ Press Information
Defending jobs in Hewlett Packard-EDS merger
On 15th October 2008, trade union and EWC representatives from HP and EDS met in Brussels to discuss the 9,330 lay offs announced in the wake of the take-over of EDS by HP. (This meeting followed the trade union coordination meeting held under the auspices of EMF and UNI-Europa on 9 September and the Extraordinary EWC meeting on 25 September.)
The participants underlined the shock felt by the workforce in the various countries concerned given that the size of the job cuts far exceeded any ‘worst scenario’ expectations they may have had. In EDS this means one out of four workplaces is threatened.
Participants also underlined the fact that the plan announced on 25 September was not based on any sound analysis of the economic situation of the combined group nor did it take its future potential into account. In their view the plan was only geared towards the financial markets and unfortunately will not be conducive to the constructive climate which is necessary for the successful integration of the two groups.
The trade unions’ opinion is that the European management failed to inform and consult the European Works Councils on 25 September. EWC representatives were presented with a fait accompli. They had no opportunity to influence the plan on the basis of their own expertise prior to the decision being taken.
For EMF and UNI-Europa, this is not in line with the spirit of the EWC Directive. They will use the HP/EDS case to underline the need to strengthen information and consultation rights in the current EWC Directive revision process.
EMF and UNI-Europa call on HP/EDS management:
- to ensure that it meets its obligations to provide full information and proper consultation with the trade union/employee representative bodies both at European and national levels. It has failed to do this so far at European level.
- to recognise the employees’ right to bargain collectively and enter into negotiations on the social consequences of their planned decision.
- not to proceed with any compulsory redundancies/layoffs.
- to provide a detailed plan for redeployment and re-skilling of the existing workforce in order to fill current and anticipated skills shortages as an alternative to redundancies in this reorganisation.
- to create the conditions for the establishment of a new EWC which will capitalize on the best practices of each EWC agreement.
lrackham@emf-fem.org www.emf-fem.org ▪ emf@emf-fem.org
Press Release
International Trade Union House (ITUH)
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5 (bte 10)
B-1210 Brussels
Tel: +32/(0)2/227 10 10
EMF PR Unit: Caroline Jacobsson & Linda Rackham Fax: +32/(0)2/217 59 63
cjacobsson@emf-fem.org
The trade unions will not accept that HP and EDS merge in order to downsize. They want the new combined company to say where and how it will grow and how this will benefit its employees.
Against this background, they have decided to hold a European Action Day to call on management to revise its plan. On that day, EMF and UNI-Europa affiliates in countries where HP and EDS have operations will undertake local/national actions to demonstrate their solidarity with a view to safeguarding jobs and securing a sustainable future for their companies.
Protest actions will already be launched shortly in some countries, prior to the European Action Day. EMF and UNI-Europa will communicate further details in due course.
___________
PRESS 27/2008
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.
UNI-Europa is the European trade union organisation for skills and services.
For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
Isabelle Barthès, EMF Policy Advisor on Company Policy +32(0)2 227 10 12
Gerd Rohde, UNI-Europa, gerd.rohde@uniglobalunion.org
Press Release
International Trade Union House (ITUH)
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5 (bte 10)
B-1210 Brussels
Tel: +32/(0)2/227 10 10
EMF PR Unit: Caroline Jacobsson & Linda Rackham Fax: +32/(0)2/217 59 63
cjacobsson@emf-fem.org
17th October 2008
Press Information ▪ Press Information
Defending jobs in Hewlett Packard-EDS merger
On 15th October 2008, trade union and EWC representatives from HP and EDS met in Brussels to discuss the 9,330 lay offs announced in the wake of the take-over of EDS by HP. (This meeting followed the trade union coordination meeting held under the auspices of EMF and UNI-Europa on 9 September and the Extraordinary EWC meeting on 25 September.)
The participants underlined the shock felt by the workforce in the various countries concerned given that the size of the job cuts far exceeded any ‘worst scenario’ expectations they may have had. In EDS this means one out of four workplaces is threatened.
Participants also underlined the fact that the plan announced on 25 September was not based on any sound analysis of the economic situation of the combined group nor did it take its future potential into account. In their view the plan was only geared towards the financial markets and unfortunately will not be conducive to the constructive climate which is necessary for the successful integration of the two groups.
The trade unions’ opinion is that the European management failed to inform and consult the European Works Councils on 25 September. EWC representatives were presented with a fait accompli. They had no opportunity to influence the plan on the basis of their own expertise prior to the decision being taken.
For EMF and UNI-Europa, this is not in line with the spirit of the EWC Directive. They will use the HP/EDS case to underline the need to strengthen information and consultation rights in the current EWC Directive revision process.
EMF and UNI-Europa call on HP/EDS management:
- to ensure that it meets its obligations to provide full information and proper consultation with the trade union/employee representative bodies both at European and national levels. It has failed to do this so far at European level.
- to recognise the employees’ right to bargain collectively and enter into negotiations on the social consequences of their planned decision.
- not to proceed with any compulsory redundancies/layoffs.
- to provide a detailed plan for redeployment and re-skilling of the existing workforce in order to fill current and anticipated skills shortages as an alternative to redundancies in this reorganisation.
- to create the conditions for the establishment of a new EWC which will capitalize on the best practices of each EWC agreement.
The trade unions will not accept that HP and EDS merge in order to downsize. They want the new combined company to say where and how it will grow and how this will benefit its employees.
Against this background, they have decided to hold a European Action Day to call on management to revise its plan. On that day, EMF and UNI-Europa affiliates in countries where HP and EDS have operations will undertake local/national actions to demonstrate their solidarity with a view to safeguarding jobs and securing a sustainable future for their companies.
Protest actions will already be launched shortly in some countries, prior to the European Action Day. EMF and UNI-Europa will communicate further details in due course.
___________
PRESS 27/2008
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.
UNI-Europa is the European trade union organisation for skills and services.
For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
Isabelle Barthès, EMF Policy Advisor on Company Policy +32(0)2 227 10 12
Gerd Rohde, UNI-Europa, gerd.rohde@uniglobalunion.org
lrackham@emf-fem.org www.emf-fem.org ▪ emf@emf-fem.org
t
21st October 2008
Press Information ▪ Press Information
“Yes to HP, but for all workers” -
EDS employees fight mass dismissals
A wave of protest actions starts today in Germany and in Italy in opposition to the lay-off of employees at EDS and HP.
In Italy a four-hour strike is taking place at all EDS sites around the country involving both trade unions and workers. In Rome and Milan demonstrations are taking place in front of the HP headquarters.
In Germany, the works councils of EDS, together with the trade unions IG Metall and Verdi, is calling for a "joint lunch" at 1 pm in front of the EDS headquarters in Rüsselsheim.
These actions come in the wake of the announcement made by HP CEO Mark Hurd and EMEA Director Bill Thomas, on 25th September, to cut 9,330 jobs in Europe, of which 8,400 at EDS.
“The scale of the workforce reduction exceeds in all countries our ‘worst scenario’ expectations,” said Udo Verzagt, chairman of the European Works Council at EDS. “This means every fourth workplace is at risk in Europe. The reduction plans are not based on a concrete analysis of the situation but are geared exclusively to the financial requirements of HP,” he added.
After years of restructuring, EDS had finally stabilised and achieved solid positive results in Europe. The announced dismissals are the largest workforce reduction in the history of EDS. It will have catastrophic consequences for employees, clients and the success of HP in Europe.
EDS employees are committed to a future-oriented cooperation.
EMF and UNI-Europa support the workers in their fight against the mass dismissals. A press conference will be held after the rally.
International Trade Union House (ITUH)
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.
UNI-Europa is the European trade union organisation for skills and services.
For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
Isabelle Barthès, EMF Policy Advisor on Company Policy +32(0)2 227 10 12
Gerd Rohde, UNI-Europa, gerd.rohde@uniglobalunion.org
lrackham@emf-fem.org www.emf-fem.org ▪ emf@emf-fem.org
Success of the 4 huors Strike in Italy. About 65% - 70% of EDS people. Less for HP workers
but it was very important for them and for us. It spent a lot of time from the last strike in HP Italy.
There were about 300 people in front of the building of HP of Rome and 70 workers in Milano.
Moreover in Bari and Napoli whe had a meeting with the local gorverment of Regione Campania and Regione Puglia.
"And that’s why we fight together on different levels, that jobs can be maintained at HP, at EDS"
(Gerald White, CDU)
A summary of the action day in Germany by the EDS works council, 24 October 2008
1000 colleagues demonstrated in Rüsselsheim under the slogan "Yes to HP, but for ALL!
The Action Day against the planned job cuts gained great public interest.
Such a "joint lunch at the fountain" EDS in Rüsselsheim has not yet experienced. The Action day on 21
October was a full success: When, if not now, we need to go on the streets against the monstrous
plans? How can we be silent now?
MPs (members of the German Bundestag) at the event
Gerald White (CDU - Christian Democratic Union in Germany):
"I bring the solidarity and support of the whole employees group of the CDU / CSU in the Bundestag
in the battle for jobs. We are on your side, so the jobs can be maintained. Short-term return
thinking, ‘green table’ thinking with ivory-tower demands that ordinary people have to carry out must
come to an end.
What HP management releases from its ivory-tower table has nothing to do with social
responsibility and social ownership. Today - we jointly sue social ownership of property - here in
Rüsselsheim.
The greatest treasure a company has, are its employees. It is cynical and irresponsible to intend
sending home a quarter of the employees. Work for people must be the motto, not the sending of
people to the Federal Employment Office.
And that’s why we fight together on different levels, that jobs can be maintained at HP, at EDS.“
Gerold Reichenbach (SPD - Social Democratic Party of Germany):
"It's not about achieving synergy effects with one quarter of the workforce. One can figure out how
ineffective the companies should have been when nearly one quarter of the workforce comes out of
synergy effects. The point is to make quick money. It shows that many managers have not seen the
signs of the time. They have learned nothing.
At this point Karl Marx was wiser than Ackermann because it is not money that creates value but
the employees in companies.
A company is not strong and powerful on the market when it dismisses workers but it is strong and
powerful on the market when it recruits employees. We need to come back to this doctrine.
The past weeks have shown the shareholder value quickly dissolves into thin air but not jobs,
products and people. We must move away from this inhumane policy. Therefore receive my entire
solidarity for your industrial action, much success in the protection of your jobs. It is also about
obtaining reasonable economies vis-à-vis nonsense."
2
And it came a great many
The action day began already in the early morning for
150 colleagues that came to Rüsselsheim by bus from
Bochum, Essen, Wuppertal, Cologne, Düsseldorf and
Schweinfurt. One holiday gone and a long journey but
combative mood and great determination to protest mass
layoffs! Only those from Ludwigsburg would have
preferred to go straight to HP headquarters in
Boeblingen: "shorter and more effective." However, they
came numerously because "If every fourth must go
Ludwigsburg will also end soon". The rally after
Boeblingen is perhaps only postponed, but not
abandoned.
"We had absolutely no idea about the interest, support and practical solidarity that concocted
over the last 14 days," observed Stephan Buchal of the Rüsselsheimer works council in his welcoming
notes. It was really surprising. Many colleagues were present from other companies: a delegation of
Opel, colleagues from the Rüsselsheim hospital, the Hanauer Vacuumschmelze, the company Imtech
from the street just opposite. Even colleagues from our EDS sister company, the Application Services,
Business Solutions and The ITellium came to Rüsselsheim to support us in our rally. We were
particularly pleased with the support of colleagues from HP. Some colleagues from the works council
arrived personally and solidarity notes were received from five locations (Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt,
Munich and Bad Homburg). Sabine Jack, chairwoman of the joint works council happily said: "Dear
colleague from HP, a warm welcome to you. It is good that we stick together now and in future."
Even the politicians asked were spontaneously ready to support us.
Above all the local MP from the district of Gross-Gerau: Gerald Weiss (CDU) and Gerold Reichenbach
(SPD) were clearly against the planned mass redundancies. Member of state parliament Renate
Meixner Römer (SPD), head of Rüsselsheim city assembly, apologized in an email for urgent
commitments in the parliament and assured her "solidarity against this short-sighted and irresponsible
job cuts at EDS." Even Rüsselsheim mayor Stefan Gieltowski apologized because of a municipality
meeting but assured the works council its support for the colleagues at EDS.
Particularly surprising was the "media hype", which has caused our action day.
There were preliminary reports e.g. in the Computerwoche, the Frankfurter Rundschau and the
Mainspitze. Even the Hessische Rundfunk and FFH reported already in the early morning on the
upcoming rally. Many journalists were present at the press conference, IG Metall and ver.di had invited
for at the Columbia Hotel at 12:00 noon. Newspapers, radio and television interviewed many colleagues
and reported in detail about our struggle against mass layoffs. "EDS in the Hesse show" - a pity that this
didn’t happen in the past and on nicer occasions. A detailed press release from dpa (Reuters) was
already in the editorial offices at 3:30 pm.
The whole thing would not have been possible like this without the extensive support of ver.di
and IG Metall. The union colleagues have actively helped create the contacts, the public sphere, to
organize the action day and also to support financially. It was clear that EDS employees have improved
their scope of action significantly by joining Ver.di and IG Metall.
In view of that, the demonstration was an important step in the fight against the planned job cuts
and for a collective house agreement at EDS!
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