European trade unions protest HP job cuts

HELSINKI, Oct 21 (Reuters) - European trade unions protested on Tuesday in Italy and Germany against Hewlett-Packard Co's (HPQ.N) plan to cut thousands of jobs in the region, a part of its global cost cuts following its acquisition of EDS.

Trade unions said HP's European management failed to inform and consult workers "in line with the spirit" of European regulations before the cuts were decided upon, and it plans further actions hoping management would revise job cut plans.

Last month, HP unveiled a plan to cut 7.5 percent of its global workforce, or 24,600 jobs, following its $13.2 billion purchase and integration of Electronic Data Systems. Some 9,330 of the cuts would be in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"The trade unions will not accept that HP and EDS merge in order to downsize," the European Metalworkers' Federation and UNI-Europa, a union body for skilled employees in the services sector, said in a joint statement.

A spokeswoman for HP in Silicon Valley said the company was working closely with elected trade union representatives as it integrates EDS.

"We will treat all affected employees with the highest level of respect and will offer them extensive career counseling and outplacement services," the spokeswoman said.

The unions said they plan to use the HP/EDS case to underline the need to strengthen workers rights from the current regulations.

In Italy, a four-hour strike took place at all EDS sites on Tuesday, while demonstrations were held in front of local headquarters in Rome, Milan and Roesselsheim in Germany, the unions said. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki; additional reporting by David Lawsky in San Francisco)