Fujitsu announces plans to cut up to 1,800 UK jobs

Fujitsu has announced plans for a "transformation programme" which will result in the reduction of up to 1,800 jobs in the UK.

The Japanese multinational electronics company said it wanted to streamline operations in order to remain competitive.

The job cuts will affect workers at Fujitsu's major UK sites, including Belfast Bracknell, Crewe, Londonderry/Derry, Manchester, Stevenage, Wakefield and Warrington.

The move was criticsed by Unite, which said it was a "hammer blow" to workers who have helped make the company's UK subsidiary highly profitable.

Fujitsu employees protest against proposed redundancies and pay freezes outside the company's Belfast offices in 2010. Credit: PA Wire

Ian Tonks, Unite national officer for IT, said: "It is not good news for the UK economy as the company says that it intends to offshore many of these jobs, with increased automation also responsible for job losses.

"Fujtsu’s main UK subsidiary made £85.6m profit last year and we see no reason for these job losses."

Mr Tonks added: "Fujitsu claims to be a responsible business - it needs to start acting like one. Its UK staff make the company excellent profits. They deserve to be treated better than ‘unit costs’ that need to be minimised.

Fujitsu revealed last week that it was considering selling off its computer business to Chinese firm Lenovo.