Workers at Fujitsu, the Japanese owned technology company, in the UK looked set to go out on strike today after union members voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over jobs, pay and pensions.

Unite, the union, said that its senior representatives would hold meetings today to deterimine what action would take place after 74 per cent of those polled in a ballot voted to take direct strike action.

Some 92 per cent of the votes cast in the ballot were in favour of industrial action but short of going out on strike, Unite said.

The union said workers, who have already been hit with a pay freeze, were being asked to take a pay cut of about 20 per cent through changes to their pension arrangements.

In August, Fujitsu announced plans to shut its final salary retirement scheme in Britain to new members. It has unveiled proposals to make 1,200 staff redundant.

Unite said 4,000 staff who currently have final salary pension schemes will next month be forced to sign up for fresh jobs on contracts that are unchanged apart from modified pension plans.

Fujitsu employs about 12,500 staff in the UK at sites including Bracknell, Crewe, Sheffield, Warrington and Newcastle.

The union has protested that, although half the workforce is facing uncertainty over employment, Fujitsu is a successful company, posting £200 million of pre-tax profits last year.

Its parent company is cash rich, unions said, having raised more than $900 million from a recent share sale.

Peter Skyte, Unite's national officer for IT and communications, said: "Unite members are asking why they should lose their jobs and tighten their belts when last year the company paid out about £150 million to shareholders and around £1.6 million to two directors as compensation for loss of office.

"Fujitsu remains a highly profitable company and our members are insisting that the company must treat them fairly and increase pay, provide decent pensions, and consult meaningfully to minimise job losses and avoid compulsory redundancy."

Today's action comes as fresh strikes loom at Royal Mail, which has already been hit by industrial action, after talks between management and unions over changes to working conditions broke down.

Unite is also at the centre of a union dispute with British Airways over 1,700 of forced job losses and changes to working conditions for cabin crew.

The result of a strike ballot at BA will be reported in mid-December, Unite said today. Christmas strikes could follow.

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