Unite backs Fujitsu pay deal

Staff urged to continue campaigning despite increase in company-wide minimum wage to £15,000

Trade union Unite has welcomed the progress Fujitsu has made in tackling low pay in the UK, but has urged staff to maintain pressure on the IT services giant.

Fujitsu first established a £12,000 company-wide minimum wage in 2010 as part of an agreement reached with Unite. The firm also committed to reviewing this each year.

That has now been increased to £14,000 for all staff. Where Unite has collective bargaining, Fujitsu has upped the minimum wage to £14,500, which rises to £15,000 taking into account pay awards that have been agreed recently. This is in line with the £15,000 living wage Unite had been pressing for.

The union also welcomed the decision to give lower-paid staff a "fairer share" under the 2012 pay review.

"Members welcome a fairer approach to pay from Fujitsu this year, which will mean many employees receive bigger rises than they have done for years," said Kevin O'Gallagher, Unite national officer for IT and communications.

However, O'Gallagher urged staff not to let the matter lie.

"The company has made clear that it sees the 2012 pay review as a ‘one-off' so it will be important for staff to continue campaigning to ensure Fujitsu establishes a fair and transparent approach to pay and benefits," he said.

"We are calling on Fujitsu to sign up to the ‘Fair Pay Charter' for the IT services industry."