Fujitsu workers strike to save jobs

Fujitsu workers took part in 12 hours of solid strike action at the company's factory in Birmingham on 9 June. The workers were protesting against the planned offshoring of jobs to the US which will result in up to 150 of the 700 workers employed at the site being sacked.

CWU members voted unanimously for action short of strike (non-cooperation and an overtime ban) and by 68:1 for strike action.

On the picket line a CWU spokesperson told me: "I'm really proud of my members. Most of them have never taken strike action before. They're devastated at the prospect of losing their jobs but are determined to keep on fighting."

Another striking worker said: "The management are determined to sack us so they can move the work to Texas, a largely non-unionised state where they'll use low-paid immigrant labour."

The anger of the workers was such that within 24 hours of the strike being called 42 workers had volunteered to help organise picket lines.

The CWU official added: "We're still in talks with Fujitsu but so far the only alternatives offered have come from the union."

Ted Woodley