Fujitsu contractors threaten walkout

DISGRUNTLED IT WORKERS currently placed in Government roles could strike over low pay from the contracting firm Fujitsu following a meeting set for later today.

Hundreds of workers are currently being polled about plans to strike over pay, according to the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU). Fujitsu, the technology and services firm that provides them, is negotiating with them today.

According to the PCSU salary increases for the workers are set at 2.5 per cent, or £500. The union warned that with the cost of living rising by around 4.4 per cent this increase is actually a pay cut.

Fujitsu workers who are members of the union have until 31 August to decide on what action to take, and in an earlier statement Sharon Leslie, the PCSU officer that represents the workers said, "When we announced the ballot the company agreed to talk at ACAS. We need a strong 'yes' vote for action to strengthen the hand of our negotiators."

As many as 750 workers from five government departments could strike, and Fujitsu could see itself being less than well-represented at the Ministry of Defence, Revenues and Customs and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, which are pretty key parts of the government.

The strike is likely to happen in September, which makes sense as August is pretty quiet anyway.

"While senior managers are pocketing bonuses in excess of what some of our members earn in a year, it's not only wrong, it's offensive for Fujitsu to claim it can't afford to increase pay," said PCSU general secretary Mark Serwotka last week as he called for more recognition of the work that his members do.

"Just because these staff are off the government's books, ministers are ultimately responsible for what happens in their department's name and they can not simply wash their hands of issues like low pay among their contractors." µ