Computer firm workers plan strike action

Thousands of workers at a Japanese-owned computer giant are to stage a series of six strikes.

The row over job cuts, pension changes and a proposed pay freeze is set to affect staff at Fujitsu which has a base in Telford.

Union Unite said the walkouts would take place on December 18 and January 7, 8, 11, 14 and 15 will be the first national strike in the IT sector in the UK.

The union is protesting over proposals for 1,000 redundancies, a pay freeze imposed earlier this year and plans by the company to close the main final salary pension scheme to future staff.

Unite said it planned to stage a protest outside the company's London headquarters on December 18, contrasting the company's treatment of staff with last year's £200 million profit and money paid out to two directors as "compensation for loss of office".

Joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: "Whilst we remain ready and willing to talk at any time, this further rejection of the company's position leaves no doubt - our members saying enough is enough.

"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 address the issues."

Fujitsu said the jobs will go from its services arm, which has an annual revenue of £2 billion employing staff on IT and outsourcing contracts for private firms, councils and the Government.

It employs 11,500 people nationwide.