Fujitsu tax workers set to strike

PCS union members will walk out on 17 January

Fujitsu Services workers in the West Midlands are set to strike later this month in a dispute over pay, which a trade union has said is likely could cause disruption for people filing self-assessment tax returns.

About 300 members of the PCS union based in Stratford-upon-Avon and Telford are set to take part in the walk-out on 17 January.

Those joining the strike are mainly those working on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs.

Fujitsu said it remained committed to continuing talks over pay.

The PCS union said UK employees had been offered a pay rise of between 3% and 4%, which it said was 10 times less than that offered to Japanese counterparts.

There is also expected to be additional action between 18 January and 15 February, involving some workers in IT roles.

A Fujitsu spokesperson said: "Fujitsu will be taking all necessary steps to ensure operational continuity for all our customers and are working closely with those customers throughout the planning process."

Workers involved in the dispute are not connected with the Post Office Horizon scandal, which has seen calls for Fujitsu to lose UK government contracts.