A fifth strike is underway at Fujitsu in Stevenage as workers protest against job cuts, salaries and pensions.

Some 80 members of the Unite union and some non-union members joined picket lines this morning outside the firm’s base in Cavendish Road.

Unite representative Steve Glennon said workers are angry at the firm’s plans to lay off 1800 staff across its UK operations and move some of its facilities overseas.

He said many staff have been offered settlements and finish dates which are up to 18 months away.

“It’s a scatter gun approach. They are trying to lay people off left right and centre.

“They are only targeting the UK as it’s easier to get rid of workers here than anywhere else.

“We’re giving our full support to the strike and backing them all the way.

“People are desperate as these jobs won’t come back.”

Members of Unite are joining others at the company’s key sites across the UK, including Basingstoke, Belfast, Birmingham, Bracknell, Crewe, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Wakefield and Warrington.

There have been four previous days of strike action in February and March. Workers will also walk out for 24 hours on April 24, and for 48 hours on the April 20.

In November last year, the firm announced plans to axe 1,800 jobs in the UK to boost its profit margins which it said were “significantly below market expectation”.

It is also creating 1,200 new roles.

Fujitsu said it did not wish to comment on the strike today.