MAKER OF EXPENSIVE PRINTER INK and outsourcing heavyweight after its purchase of EDS last year, HP possibly will be fined for failing to meet acceptable client service standards due to an ongoing industrial action with the Public and Commercial Services (PCS).

HP's 'always on' IT that supports mission critical use by the UK benefits and frauds office was actually off for a few hours. While HP claimed the problem wasn't related to two recent 48-hour strikes by the PCS, the PCS disagreed.

We reported two weeks ago that the PCS began a two-day strike today over pay conditions and job security at HP Enterprise Services in the North East. The union and the company have been trying to resolve the dispute since 22 January to no avail, even with the help of the independent public body ACAS chairing the meetings.

The potential fine is the latest issue for HP after it acquired Electronic Data System in 2008 for billions. HP rebadged the EDS team as the HP Enterprise Services division, but cracks in the paintjob soon started showing. The problem for HP is that its ex-EDS employees are pushing the UK strike action via PCS. µ