Day of action kicks off anti-fire and rehire campaign
General union Unite has launched a national push against the practice of fire and rehire.
The union announced that the campaign kicks off this week with coordinated strikes, solidarity actions and leafleting.
In January, the TUC found that one in 10 workers had been threatened with fire and rehire during the coronavirus pandemic (see Fact Service issue 4), with that number likely to increase as furlough ends – unless the law is changed.
Unite's campaign demands that the government makes fire and rehire illegal, as it is in Ireland and Spain.
Unite assistant general secretary for politics and legal Howard Beckett, explained: “Millions of people all over the country are facing the sack if they don't accept less pay and worse conditions. The government knows fire and rehire is wrong and can end it with one stroke of a legislative pen.”
Andy McDonald, Labour shadow secretary of state for employment rights, endorsed the campaign, saying: "Boris Johnson and his ministers can't continue to stick their fingers in their ears to avoid hearing story after story of bullying and abusive fire and rehire tactics. More and more companies – many that are making a healthy profit and have received financial support from the public during the pandemic – are treating their workers in this disgraceful way.”