Strikes at IT giant’s Yorkshire site over pay and pensions

IT giant Fujitsu is facing strikes at 11 of its sites, including Wakefield, over pensions and pay.

The long-running dispute concerns plans to axe one in five jobs, offshoring 1,800 UK jobs in total.

Fujitsu workers are demanding improved redundancy payments, redeployment efforts and “meaningful consultation” with regards to the planned job cuts, according to the union. They are also looking for restoration of their pensions and for Fujitsu to become a living wage accredited employer.

Now, Unite members working for the IT group at its sites in Basingstoke, Belfast, Birmingham, Bracknell, Crewe, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Stevenage, Wakefield and Warrington will strike for 24 hours on 13 April.

Further action will take place on 24 April, and there is also a 48-hour strike planned on 20 April.

Unite said that Fujitsu, which made £85.6m profit in the last financial year, was making an “ill-considered move” to cut and offshore jobs.

Unite national officer Ian Tonks said: “The previous four days of strike action generated strong support from workers determined to stand up for their jobs and livelihoods.

“The way Fujitsu is treating its workforce and keeping them in the dark over its plans for the future is beyond contempt.

“This is a workforce that has worked hard to make Fujitsu in the UK highly profitable, yet their reward is job cuts and pension reductions, while the company frustrates Unite’s attempts to minimise compulsory redundancies.

“Fujitsu needs to start seriously engaging with Unite to avoid further industrial action, which could stretch into the summer.

“It is in danger of suffering severe reputational damage and will no longer be able to masquerade as a ‘responsible business’.”

TheBusinessDesk.com contacted Fujitsu, which declined to comment.