Fujitsu is notified of strike action

Fujitsu has not yet given a formal response to union's threat to go on strike

Workers at Fujitsu are to go on a three-day strike organised by the Unite union, following a vote earlier this week.

The walkout is planned for the 12, 13 and 16 November in what is claimed to be the first ever national strike in the UK's IT sector.

According to Unite, 74 per cent of its Fujitsu members voted for strike action, with 92 per cent voting for industrial action of some sort.

The industrial action will also include members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working for Fujitsu, where 68 per cent of those voting backed strike action with 85 per cent in favour of industrial action of some sort.

The strike is over proposals the company has made for 1,200 UK redundancies, to be implemented from December, as well as changes in the firm’s pension scheme that could reduce employees’ pension payments by around 20 per cent. Unite says 4,000 staff in the main pension scheme are being hit by Fujitsu’s plans to close its retirement fund.

The company imposed a pay freeze on UK staff earlier this year and in August it announced proposals for 1,200 redundancies in the UK.

According to Unite national officer for IT and communications Peter Skyte, the Fujitsu UK chief executive was contacted by the union on Monday to try to resolve these issues but the company has yet to respond formally.

“Our members are saying enough is enough, and employee representatives on the company’s consultative forum have tendered their resignations over the way they are being treated,” said Skyte.

“We recognise the effect any industrial action will have on key customers and clients of Fujitsu, but the responsibility for this rests squarely with the company for failing to talk to us or address our issues,” he said.