HP staff refuse to cooperate in knowledge transfer

HP staff working on contracts with the Department of Work and Pensions and the Ministry of justice  will refuse to cooperate with a knowledge transfer as 400 jobs are moved from bases in North West England.

HP is centralising work in the North East of England and Erskine in Scotland as part of a cost-cutting plan.

More than 80% of members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) and some 70% of the staff at the north west sites have voted in favour of industrial action in the form on not cooperating in knowledge transfers.

Passing on knowledge of processes following changes in contracts is vital to ensure un-interrupted and continuous service levels.

“We represent 70% of the Hewlett Packard staff at sites in Lytham and Warrington, and are opposed to the company shifting 400 jobs from the region as part of cuts of 33,000 to its global workforce,” said the PCS.

"Staff not only fear for their jobs and livelihoods but are incredibly worried about the damaging effect of taking hundreds of jobs out of the north west economy,” said PCS industrial officer Peter Olech. 

"We hope Hewlett Packard recognises the strength of feeling and serious issues at stake and comes back to the table to talk to us constructively about protecting jobs and our communities."

Last year union Unite slammed CSC workers for making redundant staff train the offshore workers who will replace them.

As part of its UK restructuring plan, 750 jobs were cut, with 200 roles being sent offshore to India and the Czech Republic.

Computer Weekly wrote about the practice in 2009, when IT contractors spoke of their experiences.