Computer maker Hewlett-Packard cutting 6,000 jobs, about 6.6 percent of its work force

Thursday, July 26th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) _ Computer and printer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. is slashing approximately 6,000 jobs, about 6.6 percent of its work force, because of deteriorating global economic conditions and related weakness in technology spending.

The company also said Thursday that it expects revenues for the third quarter ending July 31 will decline 14 percent to 16 percent from the same time last year.

``Economies around the world continue to weaken as we move through the quarter,'' Carly Fiorina, HP chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. ``Our consumer business is being particularly hard hit with revenues expected to be down 24 percent.''

Fiorina said H-P expects the cuts to result in a savings of about $500 million annually.

The Palo Alto-based company said it has also taken additional short-term actions to keep expenses down. One such action, a voluntary payroll saving program, is expected to save approximately $130 million for the rest of the year, the company said. More than 80,000 employees offered to take pay cuts or use additional vacation days in an effort to trim costs.

As of early July, the company employed about 90,000 people worldwide.