Solid Support For Fujitsu Strikes As Steria Agree Pensions Deal

Unite Fujitsu members and supporters protested at the IT companies London headquarters on Friday as strike action took place across the company.

The walkouts started a series of stoppages stretching into the New Year. Picket lines were set up at Fujitsu offices across the country, including Manchester, Warrington, Crewe and Belfast as 1,600 Unite members took industrial action for the first time.

Unite IT national officer, Peter Skyte, said that the union hoped that the action would be enough to convince Fujitsu management to rethink its position on pay, pensions and job cuts. Compulsory redundancy is simply unacceptable, especially considering that Fujitsu is expecting record earnings next year," he said. "Turnout has been strong around the country today, and this demonstrates how deep the feelings are against Fujitsu management," he said.

Les Bayliss, Unite Assistant General Secretary and Workers Uniting Group candidate for Unite General Secretary stood alongside members at the London demo said: "Fujitsu is a highly profitable multi national business and their proposals to put workers out of work and close the final salary pension scheme are not acceptable. The pensions changes alone amount to a 20% pay cut for our members. If we don't fight - this it will knock onto other IT companies"

"For many of our members this is the first time they have been involved in industrial action, so the support of Unite members is crucial - I would ask Unite members support our members when the strikes in the New Year go ahead - I certainly will be."

Fujitsu Unite member Dave Seymour, dressed as "Scrooge" who has worked at the company for nine years slammed Fujitsu management. I'm paid a bloody pittance and have only had four crappy pay rises since I've been working here. Seymour said he currently earns £18,000 per year, and said he would continue to strike in the hope that Fujitsu bosses will eventually sit-up and listen to the firm's unhappy UK staff. I'm losing money standing here today, but I'm not going to give up," he said.

Meanwhile IT services supplier Steria has signed a new deals on pensions. From April 2010 Steria will close the defined benefit scheme to future accrual and instead offer employees access to a Steria defined contribution pension scheme on terms designed to reflect the benefits of their original scheme.

Peter Skyte, Unite National Officer for IT and Communications, welcomed Steria's co-operation on the deal. “We welcome, the fact that pensions of members will broadly mirror what they currently could expect under the final salary pension scheme," he said. The approach taken by Steria towards these negotiations contrasts markedly with the approach taken by other companies."

Dates for your diary: Fujitsu's six days of strike action will continue on 7th, 8, 11th, 14th and 15th January. More information as we get it.