HP workers could strike following a row over pensions and benefits rights of a number of its workers being transferred to a different arm of the company.
Unite, the UK's largest union, has kicked off an industrial action ballot spanning the 150 customer engineers and support specialists affected by the changes.
The workers, who are home-based and being transferred to HP CDS, have seven days to cast their votes. The result will be revealed mid next month.
The anger and possible strike action is focused on the removal of certain pay and pension benefits, including a performance-related bonus scheme that could be worth thousands of pounds, according to Unite.
"Our members face cuts to their pay and pensions and have no choice other than to begin an industrial action ballot. This is the latest in a series of attacks by the company on our members' pay and conditions, while senior executives and shareholders do very well indeed," said Peter Skyte, Unite national officer, in a statement.
"Unite remains willing to seek a resolution to this dispute with HP but not on the basis that one employee's pay cut results in a HP executive's pay and bonus increase."
