TRADE unions have been backed by Slough Borough Council to fight against “evil” ‘fire and rehire’ tactics on workers.

Both Labour, Conservative, and independent councillors unanimously backed a motion at a full council meeting on Thursday, September 23, have declared their opposition to this practice and will talk with their contractors to see if this policy is used in their operations.

The council will also write to its two MPs to ask that they lobby government to outlaw this practice.

Thousands of workers from companies such as Heathrow Airport have walked over alleged fire and rehire tactics, which is a practice of terminating employees’ contracts and rehires them back with their terms and conditions reduced.

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However, bosses have disputed these allegations.

Labour MP Barry Gardiner brought forward a private member’s bill in parliament to outlaw this practice in the UK.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Zaffar Ajaib (Lab: Langley St Mary’s), who moved the motion, called bosses who use this practice “money-grabbing”, citing it forces families into poverty with “no regard to their years of service.”

He said: “Many household names have made billions during the lockdown, but the greedy bosses want even more.

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“Many union bosses are saying ‘will their members be next?’ Even teachers are being fired and rehired in schools. No one seems to be safe with this policy coming forward.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned this practice as “unacceptable as a negotiating tactic” – but the government has no plans to make it illegal.

Cllr Preston Brooker (Lab: Langley Kedermister) said: “To be honest with you, I’m not holding my breath for Boris to keep any of his promises because, let’s put it this way, he’s not very good at keeping the promises he’s made already.”