Fujitsu staff will stage several days of strike action in what Unite says is the first national strike by the IT sector.

Unite the Union has announced that staff at Fujitsu UK have voted to take industrial action in a dispute over pay, redundancies and pensions.

The first of its kind in the IT sector, according to Unite, Fujitsu staff will take six days of strike action on 18 December and 7, 8, 11, 14 and 15 January.

The industrial action will be launched with a “Scrooge” protest at the company’s London headquarters as staff protest over the £1.6 million compensation package paid out to two directors as “compensation for loss of office.”

Derek Simpson, Unite Joint General Secretary, said: “Whilst we remain ready and willing to talk at any time, this further rejection of the company’s position leaves no doubt our members saying enough is enough.

“We recognise the effect any industrial action will have on key private and public sector customers and clients of Fujitsu, but the responsibility for this rests squarely with the company for failing to address the issue.”

Staff are angry at proposals by the IT giant to cut 1,000 jobs and its plans to close the main final salary pension scheme to future accrual. This decision, along with a pay freeze imposed earlier this year would mean a reduction in some employees’ total pay package of around 20%.