“Grant Shapps launched the 12-week consultation into fire and rehire practices at a time when the government is handing him the powers to personally decide minimum service levels and who is sacked.”
By the RMT Press Office
RMT today dismissed the government’s consultation for a new code to deal with unscrupulous employers who fire and rehire workers as a ‘gimmick’ designed to draw attention away from its attempts to impose new anti-union laws.
Tory Business Secretary Grant Shapps launched the 12-week consultation into fire and rehire practices at a time when the government is handing him the powers to personally decide minimum service levels and who is sacked as a result.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that not only should fire and rehire be outlawed immediately but it will not help P&O seafarers who were fired and not rehired.
“Our members struggling to re-build their lives after being thrown out of their jobs at P&O Ferries by private security guards will gain nothing from another lengthy consultation process.
“P&O Ferries will take delivery of a new electric hybrid ferry from China on the Dover-Calais route before the fire and rehire consultation closes.
“Seafarers and all workers need to be able to take pre-emptive action against employers like P&O who openly break the law to cut jobs and livelihoods but this compromised administration has no plans for this or to restore the trade union conditions which P&O Ferries ripped up with the approval of their owners in Dubai.
“Statutory guidance will not stop aggressive employers from firing staff and re-hiring them on inferior pay and terms and conditions.
“If the government doesn’t understand that, then we know they are on the side of P&O Ferries and not that of workers in Britain,” he said.
- This article was originally published by the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT) on January 24th, 2023.
- Show your support for the RMT on Facebook, twitter and Instagram.
