Striking Unite members at Fujitsu Manchester to protest at Tory conference
Hundreds of Unite members working for Fujitsu across Manchester plan to take a one-day strike tomorrow (Tuesday, 4 October) and to demonstrate at the Tory conference while their Chief Executive Officer speaks at a fringe meeting inside.
Unite members in Manchester voted for strike action over a breakdown in industrial relations, breaches of agreements and victimisation of reps. The Fujitsu workers are committed to fight to protect their terms and conditions and to stop the IT giant breaking its agreements.
Unite says that the company is breaking agreements covering issues including union recognition, pay, benefits, pensions, redundancy and redeployment. Attempts to resolve the disputes by negotiation have not yet been successful, but talks are ongoing.
Kevin O'Gallagher, Unite national officer, said: "Our members are determined and resolute and have said they will continue this fight until the company comes to its senses and negotiates. They've fought long and hard, over many years, to get agreements and will not stand by and let the company just arbitrarily break them.
"This company has shamefully failed to honour the agreements made with the union and our members feel they have no option but to take industrial action. Unite members working at Fujitsu are proud of the work they do and the services they deliver. But they are frustrated that some of those at the top are undermining their efforts.
"We believe Fujitsu could resolve all these disputes straight away, simply by honouring its agreements and treating reps fairly. We continue to urge management to resolve this dispute amicably."
ENDS
Pickets lines:
6:30 – 10:00am Fujitsu, Central Park, Northampton Road, Manchester, M40 5BP
0:00 – 8:30am Fujitsu, Unit 4, Michigan Park, Michigan Avenue, Broadway, Salford, M50 2GY
Protest at Tory conference:
Assemble 12:00pm
Barbirolli Square, Manchester M2 3GX (near the big pebble outside the Bridgewater Hall, off Lower Mosley Street).
This protest is just opposite where Duncan Tait (Fujitsu UK & Ireland’s Chief Executive Officer) is due to speak at a fringe meeting at the Tory conference at 12:30pm.
For further information contact Ian Allinson, Senior Rep in Manchester on 07985 438553; or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 3371 2061 or 07980 224761.
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