A long-running dispute over pensions, pay and overtime between Unite and Fujitsu has ended after union members accepted a new offer from the IT services supplier.
The UK’s largest union called off its industrial action on Friday, 20 January, after members welcomed the agreement, ending a long running dispute that has affected sites in Crewe and Manchester since June last year.
Key points of the agreement include a new statement on the contractual status of defined contribution pensions for UK employees, which will result in significant improvements to the schemes’ security, as well as small additional pay increases for most Manchester-based staff, which will be backdated to 1 August 2011. Fujitsu has also agreed to refrain from recriminationary or detrimental action against workers who participated either in industrial action or campaigning.
Kevin O’Gallagher, Unite’s national officer for IT and communications, said: “The agreement reflects a significant improvement in relationships with the company since last year. It means better protection for pensions for Fujitsu employees across the UK and pay rises for most Manchester staff.”
He added that there was a renewed commitment on both sides to work through the agreements, which he believed could help to avoid conflict in future.
“A significant number of new Unite representatives have recently been elected and the agreement should mean reps across the UK are, for the first time, allowed work time to deal with many issues affecting employees. Unite is looking forward to developing the positive relationship with Fujitsu in the future,” O’Gallager said.
