Fujitsu workers in North walk out

Around 30 workers at computer giant Fujitsu walked out in the North today in a row over pay and jobs.

Unite members are striking at proposals for redundancies, a pay freeze and plans by the company to close the main final salary pension scheme to new workers.

Union steward Roger Dane said around 30 workers were picketing in freezing conditions outside company offices on Belfast’s Holywood Road.

“They made £199m profit last year, are forecasted to make £110m this year and yet they have still decided to freeze the wages of their employees and not give them any sort of pay rise,” he said.

The strike is planned to last for another four days, with more action due on January 8, 11, 14 and 15 following a one-day stoppage last month.

Fujitsu employs around 11,500 people in the UK and this is the first ever national strike in the UK’s IT sector.

A spokesman for Fujitsu said: “The only reason we are in line to make any money is because we need to take prudent measures to ensure we keep our cost base down.

“Customers are demanding more from us for less money. It is unfortunate that we have to take measures that mean our cost base is reduced but if we didn’t we would not be maintaining our status as a healthy company.”