Unite announces more action at Fujitsu

Fujitsu workers are still unhappy about changes to jobs, pay and pensions

UK union Unite has announced further strike action at Fujitsu in the continuing dispute over jobs, pay and pensions.

Fujitsu has said that cuts are necessary, but the union argues that this is not the case and that the company is highly profitable.

Fujitsu's redundancy plans have been described as discriminatory against women, and the firm has launched an injunction against Unite in an effort to ban the strike action.

However, Fujitsu was forced to change tack when it admitted that it had missed an earlier communication about the planned activity.

"Fujitsu should be focusing on serious negotiations with Unite, rather than shooting itself in the foot by spending money on expensive lawyers in a fruitless and ultimately counterproductive attempt to use the law instead of the jaw," said Peter Skyte, national officer for IT and communications at Unite.

"We still believe that this dispute can only be resolved by Fujitsu sitting down with us to address the issues of jobs, pay and pensions."

Unite has now announced seven new strike dates on 22, 26, 27 and 29 January, and 1, 5 and 8 February.

The union has also taken its complaints to parliament, claiming the support of Labour MP Tony Lloyd who is due to speak in the Fujitsu workers' favour in the Commons.

Fujitsu employs around 11,500 people in the UK.