Fujitsu staff to strike in support of ousted union rep

Sixty-five Unite members employed by IT services provider Fujitsu at its Crewe office are to walk out in protest at the treatment of their trade union rep, whom they claim is being singled out for redundancy.

According to Unite, Alan Jenney, who has worked at Fujitsu for 17 years, is being unfairly treated by being put at risk of redundancy when Fujitsu has responded to job losses elsewhere through redeploying staff.

It claims Jenney's job is only at risk due to his union activities. Jenney was put on notice of redundancy at the end of March, and could be dismissed from 10 July.

"It is disappointing that such a major company is behaving this way towards its own employee who simple wants to be treated fairly and not singled out after 17 years of service for redundancy," said Unite national officer for IT and communications Kevin O'Gallagher.

"Going on strike is a last resort [but] as you would expect Unite is 100 per cent behind its members at Fujitsu," he added.

The industrial action, which narrowly passed by Unite members with 52 per cent in favour, will include one day of strike action on 30 June, and continued work-to-rule and a policy of non-cooperation to start the same day.

Fujitsu does not discuss situations relating to specific employees in such circumstances.