Stephen has co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to immediately end the fire and rehire practice, in support of Unite the Union’s campaign to strengthen UK employment law.
In the letter, Labour MPs and trade unions outline the impact of fire and rehire on UK workers. This – currently legal – practice allows employers to threaten unemployment should their workers not agree to accept pay cuts. Since the first lockdown in March 2020, an estimated one in ten workers have been told to reapply for their jobs on worse terms.
In January, the Prime Minister said the use of fire and rehire tactics are “unacceptable” and announced that the Government was working with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on this issue. The Government is yet to respond to the findings, despite 70% of the public backing a change in the law. As the letter states, “UK workers should have the same protections as workers in other countries. Fire and rehire is outlawed in parts of Europe and it should be no different here.”
Speaking about the letter, Stephen said “threatening workers with job loss to reduce pay and diminish terms and conditions undermines good employers, harms working people and damages our economy. Worryingly, this practice seems to have become more common during the pandemic, at a time where many workers have been facing severe financial pressures and personal difficulties.
The Government’s lack of action has allowed this practice to become widespread. It must now introduce urgent measures to outlaw fire and rehire.”
You can read a full copy of the letter here.