Fujitsu UK workers to strike next week

Unite has confirmed that workers at Fujitsu in the UK are to take strike action over jobs, pay and pensions.

The union said yesterday that it had served Fujitsu with notice of a three-day strike on 12, 13 and 16 November. The decision follows a vote in which the majority of members expressed a desire to participate in some sort of action. Unite said that the strike would be the largest the UK IT sector had ever seen.

"We wrote to the Fujitsu UK chief executive on Monday following the industrial action ballot announcement with the aim of attempting to resolve the issues on jobs, pay and pensions," said Peter Skyte, Unite national officer for IT and communications.

"So far, we have yet to receive any formal response from the company. 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."

Unite acknowledges that the action will have a knock-on effect beyond Fujitsu itself, but added that the responsibility for this is firmly in Fujitsu's hands.

"We recognise the effect any industrial action will have on key private and public sector customers and clients of Fujitsu, but the responsibility for this rests squarely with the company for failing to talk to us or address the issues, " said Skyte.

Unite reiterated its belief that Fujitsu has alternatives to job cuts, and that it is a very profitable company.