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From The Socialist newspaper, 26 May 2021
'Fire and rehire' attempts spread - coordinated fightback needed
Tower Hamlets workers striking against the Labour council's 'fire and re-hire' policy (Click to enlarge)
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.
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In The Socialist 26 May 2021:
What we think
Palestinians need a new socialist intifada
News
Our lives, our jobs, our future - Not safe in Tory hands
Fight for the right to protest
Great British Railways shake-up offers no end to profiteering
Organise to oppose Tory academisation plans
Lancaster Greens do deal with Tories
NHS
Organise for 3 July NHS pay protests
Scottish Independence
Where now for the Scottish independence movement?
Workplace
Metroline London bus workers win huge victory
Goodlord sacks strikers - fight the penny-pinching, bullying bosses!
Thurrock refuse workers beat council and bin pay cut
RMT: Support Alan Pottage for assistant general secretary
NUJ leadership pushes through subs increase but left lands blows at conference
CWU elections: Vote for a fighting, campaigning, socialist EC member
'Fire and rehire' attempts spread - coordinated fightback needed
Cadent Gas plans 200 job losses
International
Mexico City subway train collapse - negligence, corruption and capitalism
US right to abortion under threat: Mass campaign to support the right to choose must be built
Campaigns
Stop Israeli state terror against Palestinians
Leicester protest against arms supplies to Israel
Palestine protesters donate to fund socialist material
Cladding anger builds - protest on 5 June
Readers' Opinion
Get up, stand up - don't give up the fight!
TV review: Three Families is excellent. But protest movement is missing
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2021