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From The Socialist newspaper, 11 June 2008
Fujitsu workers strike to save jobs
Fujitsu workers took part in 12 hours of solid strike action at the company's factory in Birmingham on 9 June. The workers were protesting against the planned offshoring of jobs to the US which will result in up to 150 of the 700 workers employed at the site being sacked.
CWU members voted unanimously for action short of strike (non-cooperation and an overtime ban) and by 68:1 for strike action.
On the picket line a CWU spokesperson told me: "I'm really proud of my members. Most of them have never taken strike action before. They're devastated at the prospect of losing their jobs but are determined to keep on fighting."
Another striking worker said: "The management are determined to sack us so they can move the work to Texas, a largely non-unionised state where they'll use low-paid immigrant labour."
The anger of the workers was such that within 24 hours of the strike being called 42 workers had volunteered to help organise picket lines.
The CWU official added: "We're still in talks with Fujitsu but so far the only alternatives offered have come from the union."
Ted Smith, Birmingham Socialist Party
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In The Socialist 11 June 2008:
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Anti-racism
Socialist Party editorial
Obama declares victory, and shifts to the right
Socialist Party campaigns
"Anti-terror" laws are no solution
Defend Tommy Sheridan
Stirring rally backs Tommy Sheridan
Unison witch-hunt hits Northern Ireland
Campaign for a New Workers Party
Come to the Campaign for a New Workers' Party Conference
New Labour's parallel universe
Socialist Party youth and students
Underfunding youth facilities: It makes no sense!
Socialist Party feature
Oil price shock - the chaos of capitalism
Sudan's poor paying the price for oil
Socialist Party review
Immortal Technique at the Coronet, London 4 June 2008
Socialist Party workplace news
Usdaw needs a fighting leadership
Organise to fight the public-sector pay robbery
National Shop Stewards Network second conference
Fujitsu workers strike to save jobs
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