Tower Hamlets workers striking against the Labour council's 'fire and re-hire' policy

Tower Hamlets workers striking against the Labour council’s ‘fire and re-hire’ policy   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The fight against the workplace epidemic of bosses using ‘fire and rehire’ continues, with engineers at the Weetabix’s factories in Kettering and Corby in Northamptonshire planning to walk out over pay and conditions. Workers and unions say they are being made to accept new contracts that could mean some of them losing up to £5,000 a year. The Unite ballot for strike action opens on 27 May and closes on 3 June.

Argos is also threatening hundreds of its workers with fire and rehire. Among the proposed changes are reducing employer pension contributions, leaving staff to pay more to maintain the same benefit. Workers will also get up to four fewer days annual holiday. And those getting company car allowances will see the amount slashed by up to £3,000 a year. Some staff could be down £4,000 a year.

Unite is also coordinating industrial action at a Jacobs Douwe Egberts coffee plant in Banbury over fire-and-rehire plans.

Recently, Unite members and bus drivers at Go North West defeated fire-and-rehire attempts there following determined strike action, showing the plans can be defeated when workers and their unions fight back.