04/07/2002

US merger threatens Irish jobs

US computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard has announced plans to cut almost 6,000 jobs throughout Europe as part of a restructuring plan which could put thousands of Irish jobs in peril.

Hewlett Packard has said that the move forms part of its plan to reduce its worldwide workforce by 10% by the end of 2003. The job losses come as the latest wave in a series of cutbacks that will see the company will shed around 15,000 jobs out of its total global workforce of 150,000.

While Hewlett Packard have yet to announce the location and scope of the job losses, in a statement, the company said that those employees hit by the job cuts would receive "comprehensive severance arrangements that will include financial compensation and job search placement".

However, it is thought that the company's Irish operations will see some redundancies, but a spokeswoman for Hewlett Packard in Ireland has said it will be some days before the true local impact of the company's announcement will be revealed.

Hewlett Packard has recently merged with Compaq to form what is now the world's largest personal computer manufacturer, and the company has said the job cuts were necessary to meet cost savings of $3bn a year by 2004.

(CL)


Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

08 April 2002
HP seek dismissal of lawsuit impeding Compaq merger
Hewlett-Packard have filed for the dismissal of a case that could prevent the company from buying arch-rival Compaq. The lawsuit filed by Walter Hewlett, the son of one of Hewlett-Packard's founders, claims that the company have misled shareholders and has sought to influence the vote by coercing a major investor in the potential merger deal.
10 November 2004
Cable & Wireless to cut 600 jobs
Telecommunications company Cable & Wireless has announced that 600 jobs are to go across Europe and that its HQ in London will be relocated to Bracknell. Facing tough and "challenging" trading pressures, the company is to further restructure the UK and Europe operation with job losses.
04 September 2001
Marconi to cut a further 2,000 jobs
Telecoms equipment firm Marconi has revealed it is to axe a further 2,000 jobs on top of the 8,000 already announced earlier in the year. The company revealed the news after announcing that its two top executives had resigned.
08 January 2004
Schering-Plough to slash 170 jobs in Cork
Pharmaceutical giant Schering-Plough has followed through on plans announced late last year to slash overall payroll expenses by at least 10% with news that 170 jobs are to go at the Brinny plant near Inishannon in Cork.
04 December 2003
Union tackle Aviva over job transfers to India
Senior Amicus union representatives are to meet with Aviva top management later today to discuss the details of the company's offshoring announcement of 2,350 jobs to India.