Government is “showing contempt” for workers’ rights by failing to take action on fire and re-hire

Commenting on the government’s decision (Monday) not to support the opposition day motion to end of ‘fire and rehire’, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Everybody deserves dignity and security at work.

“But the government is once again showing contempt for workers’ rights by failing to back action on fire and rehire.

“After the scandalous events at P&O have ministers learnt nothing?

“It is clear to everybody that UK employment law needs dragging into the 21st century.

“The longer the government delays and does nothing the longer bad bosses will be able to get away with treating staff like disposable labour.

“Ministers must urgently bring forward an employment bill to root out exploitative working practices.

“And they must put relentless pressure on P&O to reinstate all sacked staff.”

The TUC is calling on P&O to reinstate all sacked staff immediately, with no loss of pay. If it fails to do so, the TUC says P&O should face severe consequences.

The union body says ministers must use an employment bill to:

  • End fire and rehire style practices and stop companies firing at will: P&O has exploited many of the same weaknesses in the law as companies using the punitive fire and rehire tactics. TUC research published during the pandemic revealed that 1 in 11 (9%) of workers have been forced to re-apply for their jobs on inferior terms and conditions. The law should state that no notices of dismissal can be given until consultation has been completed. Employees should be given protection from unfair dismissal from day one in the job.
  • Increase penalties on companies that break employment law: P&O’s failure to consult staff on their redundancies was unlawful. But companies who flout employment law in this way currently face very low fines and can get away with offering staff measly compensation.
  • Ban other forms of exploitative practices:  More than 1 million workers in the UK are employed on zero-hours contracts and thousands of others are employed in bogus self- employment. The TUC says zero-hours contracts and umbrella companies should be banned.

In addition, the TUC is calling on the government to:

  • Remove DP World (P&O ferries owner) from any government advisory groups: DP World currently sits on the influential UK Government’s Transport Advisory Group.
  • Get around the table with unions representing members in the sector to urgently review government contracts with DP World and P&O and ensure livelihoods are protected