The Socialist 3 February 2010

‘Filthy rich’ get richer: Challenge the bosses’ greed!

'Filthy rich' get richer: Challenge the bosses' greed!

Taliban insurgency, poverty and corruption Brown's Afghan crisis deepens

Chilcot Inquiry: Millionaire Blair has no regrets

Fight new attacks on London's NHS

Save our A&E!

Civil service Young workers get organised

Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) activities

No cuts and no fees in further education

Young people blocked from access to education

Council criminalises dissent

Socialist councillors back school's protest

Weak growth - the best that capitalism can offer

Fast News

Trade unionist and socialist coalition

Bob Crow launches Portsmouth TUSC

Scottish TUSC steering committee set up

TUSC Coalition sponsors

Unison general secretary election: Fighting left challenge needed

Defend the four: Courts show what side they're on

Civil service strike ballot as talks fail

Fujitsu strikers determined to save jobs and pensions

Sri Lanka: Violent election campaign puts Rajapakse back in power

Tekel workers demand general strike in Turkey

Betrayed - PTSD casualties of war

Previous issues, etc

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Fujitsu strikers determined to save jobs and pensions

A delegation from Warrington trades council visited the Unite members picketing at Fujitsu's Warrington site on 1 February.

The strikers cover a wide range of occupations - distribution, warehouse, engineering, recycling and sales - and there was real anger at the spectacle of Fujitsu making huge profits while simultaneously cutting benefits for the workforce to a minimum.

"£192 million they made in profit last year, but there's people been here for eight years who are only on £12,000 a year" said one striker. "And two directors got £1.6 million between them when they left the company!"

Pay for the workforce has been frozen after these huge profits and payouts for top management.

"Normally we get a glossy brochure when the annual report comes out, not this year though! It's as if they wanted to hide the figures".

Another issue is that Fujitsu put 6,000 staff 'at risk of redundancy', modified now to 1,200 following the strong reaction from the union. Discussions are continuing.

And if all this wasn't enough the company are also messing with the pension scheme.

Pickets explained how, despite the lack of union recognition, they have been gradually building the union.

They were confident of passing the 50% membership mark soon, at which point they have a legal right to the union being recognised.

The pickets were cheerful and determined. A lot of money has come in donations to the strike fund and support was good from passing motorists.

This is the first national dispute in the IT sector in the UK. It is also an important dispute as it proves that unions can organise and grow in 'new' industries in the private sector.

Further information from: www.ourunion.org.uk