HP hit by French work stoppage

Workers at a Hewlett-Packard facility in France took part in a two-hour work stoppage Wednesday to call attention to concerns related to the merger of HP and Compaq Computer. An HP representative noted that only 80 of 380 workers at the facility took part in the work stoppage, which was organized by two French labor unions.

HP said that the industrial action--the first since the merger was completed in May--was limited to a facility at Sophia Antipolis near Nice and said that the company remains in talks and consultations with unions in Europe.