The UK's leading trade union, Unite, has thrown its weight behind a new law to place heavy restrictions on employers using Fire and Rehire tactics.

Unite has faced down a range of employers seeking to inflict fire and rehire on their workers this year, including at JDE and Go North West, and the union’s general secretary Sharon Graham has pledged consistently to build industrial strength to defeat employers using fire and rehire.

Barry Gardiner MP’s Private Member's Bill is an opportunity for MPs to signal that they too are supporting working people against `bully boy' practices.  The bill will be debated and voted on by MPs in its second reading in the House of Commons on 22 October under the title of Employment and Trade Union Rights (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Bill.

Ahead of the debate, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “'Fire and rehire' is an abhorrence. It should have no place in a decent society.

“MPs now have a chance on Friday to outlaw this appalling bully boy practice which is a new attack on workers’ wages and conditions. 

"Workers want action, not more empty words.  The prime minister has talked a good game on this issue.  Now it is time for him to step up, to act and show workers that he means what he says."

Gardiner has sought cross party support for his Bill to tackle Fire and Rehire, a practice that several top Conservatives have criticised.

Ahead of Friday’s vote in Parliament, Unite has encouraged its members to lobby their MPs to do the right thing and support the Bill. 

Barry Gardiner MP said: "MPs from every political party and every corner of the country are saying that Fire and Rehire is wrong. 

"Bullying and intimidation is not the way forward if we want decent employment and a productive economy. My colleagues in parliament have a chance to stand up and stop the bullying."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Unite is running a national campaign to End Fire and Rehire. For more information, please see https://endfireandrehire.com

For media enquires ONLY contact Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215. Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion Web: unitetheunion.org 

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.