Hewlett Packard accused of job cut 'butchery'

In June, HP said it was cutting jobs as a result of productivity gains and automation

Computer giant Hewlett Packard (HP) plans to cut 1,300 jobs in the UK and move work overseas, according to the Unite union.

Unite branded the news "butchery", saying the cuts came on top of job losses announced in June to take place by the end of October.

Then, the company said net job losses worldwide would total 3,000.

However, HP said it was still consulting and that the cuts were part of the losses announced in June.

"Despite significant profits HP appears hell-bent on continuing to butcher its highly skilled UK workforce," said Unite national officer Peter Skyte.

"Lax employment protection in the UK compared to other European countries means that the UK is bearing the brunt of cuts, as it's quicker and cheaper to sack UK people and export their jobs abroad."