Fears are growing that Galway may be hit by a round of job cuts announced by computer giant Hewlett Packard (HP) yesterday.

The company, which is carrying out a global restructuring programme as part of its merger with computer services firm Electronic Data Systems, announced that it is to cut 24,600 jobs, or almost eight per cent of its global workforce of 320,000.

According to the company: "The restructuring program will take place over three years and includes a workforce reduction that will streamline the combined company's services businesses. Workforce reduction plans will vary by country, based on local legal requirements and consultation with works councils and employee representatives, as appropriate."

The company has committed to providing affected employees with severance packages, counselling and job placement services.

However, it is not yet known whether the job cuts will affect 500 employees at the company's Galway plant.

According to Dr Chris Coughlan, a senior manager at the Galway plant, Galway management have "absolutely no knowledge of how it's going to affect the company on a worldwide basis".

Approximately half the jobs to be cut, he said, would go from the United States.

"We only heard ourselves yesterday," he said.

HP employs 4,000 people in Ireland, between plants in Leixlip, Dublin, Galway and Belfast.

The Galway operation is mainly focussed on research and development of software and localisation.

HP completed its acquisition of EDS on 26 August, 2008.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment