Deal ends Fujitsu union woes

handshake

Months of labour strife has come to an end as Fujitsu and thousands of its unionised employees have agreed a new deal.

Fujitsu and members of the Unite Union have been battling since the summer over job losses and pension changes, with 10 days of strikes.

But after a meeting with broker the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), the pair managed to come to an agreement and all looming work action was called off.

Initially, Unite was trying to prevent 1,200 UK job cuts, a pay freeze and changes to the pension scheme that would have cut the package by a fifth.

Now, the job losses have been kept to fewer than 30, while a consultation on the pension package has been extended to next week, with an offer of a five per cent pay increase to help make up the difference.

Peter Skyte, Unite national officer for the IT sector, said in a statement: "While the Acas brokered proposals do not fully satisfy our members' aspirations, there have been significant changes in the company's position on jobs, pay and pensions over the course of the dispute."

He added: "Unite will continue to work with Fujitsu to avoid compulsory redundancies and press the company for a fairer and more open and transparent pay system that more adequately recognises and rewards the Fujitsu workforce for its contribution to the company's success and for improved pension provision."