British Fujitsu factory workers to strike over job losses

LONDON: Around 150 workers at Japanese electronics giant Fujitsu Ltd's manufacturing plant in Birmingham, central England, will go on strike today in protest at plans to move their jobs to the United States.

According to the Communication Workers Union (CWU), the strike will begin at 6.00 am (10.30IST), and will last for 24 hours, with further industrial action short of going on strike, such as not working overtime, set to continue until an agreement is reached between the company and the workers.

"We are bitterly disappointed that progress has not been achieved through negotiations with the company on achieving a solution for these manufacturing workers," said Jeannie Drake, CWU deputy general secretary.

"Staff feel let down that their loyalty to this company has been rewarded with the threat of job losses and will be demonstrating the strength of their feelings through strike action on Monday."

Fujitsu said last month that its operating profit for the year through March rose 12.6 per cent to USD 1.96 billion.