Unite and the Public Commercial Services union have signed a joint working agreement at Fujitsu in order to ensure a cooperative working relationship between the two unions and to best represent IT workers at the company.
Outsourcing from the public and private sectors form a major part of Fujitsu's business. In addition to strengthening union organisation within Fujitsu, the unions will be working together to recruit groups of workers transfering into the company from other organisations.
The agreement between Unite and PCS recognises the multi-union environment at the company and agrees spheres of influence within which both unions will strongly encourage employees to join the identified union.
The agreement will ensure cooperation and coordination between the unions on issues affecting the workforce, and to maximise employees' influence over company decisions.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said:
"This agreement recognises the nature of Fujitsu's business and ensures that the unions cooperate to best represent their members within the company. Whether workers are transferred in, or already work for the company, this deal ensures they have the best possible representation.
"Unite and PCS will embark on joint campaigns at national and local levels, share information and work together to build union organisation at Fujitsu. This is a groundbreaking agreement for Fujitsu staff which will ensure that trade union representation goes from strength to strength."
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
"The government's obsession with austerity has bled into private companies and many of them are using the recession as an opportunity to cut staff and wages to make ever higher profits.
"We look forward to building on the excellent links we already have with Unite in Fujitsu, as well as elsewhere in the private and public sectors, to ensure workers can stand together to improve their working lives and living standards."