Fire and Rehire – Solidarity Trade Union

Reform UK signals plans to roll back key employment rights and worker protection

A speaker gesturing passionately at a podium, promoting electoral reform, with a large banner in the background that reads 'Vote Reform'.

Solidarity is a non‑party‑political trade union. We are not affiliated to any political party and we don’t maintain a political fund. Our responsibility is to keep members informed when political proposals—by any party—could affect your rights, your security, or your working conditions.

Overview

Recent public statements from Reform UK’s leadership outline a programme of sweeping deregulation. These proposals include repealing new employment rights, removing protections for renters, and reversing measures designed to strengthen job security.

Union leaders across sectors have raised concerns that these plans would significantly weaken workers’ rights and shift power further towards employers.

What Reform UK says it intends to remove

Based on their own statements, Reform UK is proposing to:

Scrap new employment‑rights rules
Remove new protections for renters
Repeal regulations designed to improve job security
Roll back environmental and industrial regulations they describe as “daft” or burdensome

Their argument is that these rules “kill jobs” and “hinder growth,” and that removing them would reduce inflation and lower bills.

Rights and protections at risk

Union leaders have warned that the following rights could be lost if these proposals were implemented:

1. Ban on fire‑and‑rehire practices

New laws preventing employers from dismissing staff and rehiring them on worse terms could be scrapped.

2. Protections against exploitative zero‑hour contracts

Rules designed to curb the most abusive forms of insecure work may be removed.

3. Stronger unfair‑dismissal protections

Recent improvements that extend protection from unfair dismissal could be rolled back.

4. Parental leave and sick‑pay rights

Opposition parties and unions warn that hard‑won rights in these areas may be weakened or removed.

5. Local government pension security

Reform UK has said it would block new entrants to local government pension schemes and consolidate them into a sovereign wealth fund—raising concerns about long‑term retirement security.

6. Housing protections for renters

Rolling back new rental protections would affect millions of working people who rely on secure, safe housing.

Why this matters for members

If enacted, these proposals could affect:

Your job security
Your protection from unfair dismissal
Your rights around sick pay and parental leave
Your ability to avoid exploitative contracts
Your pension prospects
Your housing stability

These are not abstract issues—they shape the daily lives of working people.

Solidarity’s position

Solidarity does not support or oppose political parties.
Our duty is to:

Inform members about political proposals that may affect their rights
Defend and advance workplace protections
Ensure members understand the implications of changes being proposed

We will continue to monitor developments and provide clear, factual updates.

By Maria Camara

Birmingham Bin Workers Hold Line in Historic Strike

Eight months into their indefinite strike, Birmingham’s refuse workers remain steadfast against council wage cuts. With overwhelming community support and union solidarity, the dispute has become a defining battle over fairness, dignity, and the right to resist “fire and rehire.”

Birmingham’s refuse workers are continuing their indefinite strike after eight gruelling months, standing firm against the city council’s attempt to slash wages by up to £8,000 through a controversial “fire and rehire” strategy. The workers, represented by Unite, have refused to back down in the face of council intransigence, which has so far blocked meaningful negotiations.The strike has become a symbol of resistance across the city. Unite reports that nearly 6,000 households are proudly displaying posters and stickers in support of the workers, while more than 150 local businesses and faith groups have pledged solidarity. This groundswell of backing demonstrates that the community recognises the justice of the workers’ cause and the unfairness of the council’s approach.

Allegations of blacklisting and intimidation have further tarnished the council’s conduct. Agency staff have reportedly been threatened to deter them from supporting the strike, raising serious questions about the legality and morality of the council’s tactics. At the same time, millions of pounds are being wasted on fighting a dispute that could be resolved through negotiation—money that could instead be invested in public services.

Meanwhile, residents are left to suffer the consequences, with recycling rates plummeting and waste piling up.Pat Harrington, General Secretary of Solidarity union, voiced his support for the strikers: “These workers are showing immense courage in the face of injustice. Fire and rehire is an attack on dignity and livelihoods. Birmingham’s bin workers are standing up not just for themselves, but for every worker threatened by this exploitative practice. They deserve our full solidarity.”The Birmingham bin strike is now one of the longest-running disputes in recent memory, and its outcome will resonate far beyond the city. For union members across Britain, it is a reminder that collective action remains the most powerful tool against employer overreach.

Action points
Sign the petition at the campaign website https://www.unitetheunion.org/campaigns/back-birminghams-refuse-workers-sign-our-petition-today

Consider making a small donation to the strike fund. Unite Solidarity Fund
60-83-01 | 20502672
Ref: BCC strike donation

Farage is No Friend of Working People: A Personal View from Pat Harrington, General Secretary of Solidarity

The recent successes of Reform UK at the ballot box – including a by-election win in Runcorn and the Doncaster mayoralty – have understandably caused a stir in political and trade union circles. As General Secretary of Solidarity, I believe we must take these developments seriously and respond with clarity and resolve. Let me be clear: in my personal opinion, Nigel Farage is no friend of working people.

I understand why some working-class voters are tempted by Farage and his Reform UK movement. They are fed up. Years of neglect, stagnant wages, crumbling public services, and a political establishment that appears more interested in spin than substance have left many disillusioned. Farage appears to speak plainly and taps into genuine frustrations. That appeal should not be dismissed or ridiculed. But it should be challenged, because behind the rhetoric lies a record that working people must be made aware of.

Farage’s Voting Record: Repeatedly Opposed to Workers’ Rights

As the Trades Union Congress (TUC) recently revealed, Farage’s voting record speaks volumes. Time and again, he has voted against the interests of the very people he claims to represent:

He voted against banning zero-hours contracts, which trap workers in uncertainty and insecurity.
He opposed banning ‘fire and rehire’, a cruel tactic allowing employers to sack workers and offer them worse terms.
He voted against sick pay from day one, leaving workers vulnerable when they fall ill.
He rejected stronger protections for pregnant workers.
He voted against collective bargaining rights and trade union access in workplaces.

This isn’t a handful of votes taken out of context. It’s a pattern. A worldview that prioritises deregulation, corporate interests and weakening the power of organised labour. That’s why the focus of all trade unions, in my view, must be on exposing this anti-worker record every time Reform UK is discussed.

Farage’s Persona vs. Farage’s Politics

Farage has built his brand as an anti-establishment rebel. Many see him as someone who is willing to say what others won’t. But we must ask: who benefits from his policies? Paul Nowak of the TUC put it well when he described Farage as a “political fraud cosplaying as a working-class champion.”

Reform UK’s economic platform, far from supporting workers, offers a Thatcherite rehash:

£50 billion in public service cuts.
Slashing corporation tax from 25% to 15%, giving more to big business.
No plan for raising wages or expanding workplace rights.

This is not a programme for social justice or economic renewal. It’s the same old trickle-down economics, dressed up with a Union Jack.

Understanding the Appeal, Changing the Conversation

To defeat Farage and Reform UK, we must first understand why their message resonates. People are angry – and rightly so. But anger must be channelled toward those responsible: the employers who exploit, the politicians who betray, the system that puts profit over people.

The job of trade unions is not only to defend workers at the workplace but also to provide clarity in the public debate where workers rights are at issue. In that spirit, I urge all unions to put Reform UK’s record on workers’ rights front and centre in our campaigning.

We need to:

Challenge the myth that Farage stands with ordinary people.
Remind voters what his voting record really says.
Offer a clear, alternative vision rooted in solidarity, justice, and dignity at work.

What Solidarity Stands For

At Solidarity, we stand unapologetically for working people. That means:

Fighting for secure jobs and decent pay.
Defending collective bargaining and union rights.
Demanding fair sick pay, pensions, and protection for the vulnerable.
Building unity, not scapegoating the marginalised.

We also believe in having an open, honest discussion about migration, immigration and refugee policy. That conversation should aim to achieve a fair and humane policy – one that is grounded in reality and guided by compassion, while also maintaining the support of the British people. We want a harmonious national consensus, not culture wars or scapegoating.

The future for our class will not be won by blaming migrants, attacking public services, or cutting taxes for the rich. It will be won by building power from the ground up.

Nigel Farage may talk like he understands working people, but his record shows otherwise. Let’s make sure everyone knows it.

In solidarity,

Pat Harrington
General Secretary, Solidarity

new bill to outlaw fire and rehire

Fire and rehire is when bad bosses threaten workers with the sack and are told they will only be re-employed to do the same basic job if they accept less money and poorer conditions.

Even the government agrees that fire and rehire tactics are wrong but have refused to outlaw them. Jacob Rees-Mogg has described fire and rehire as “wrong” and a “bad practice” while Business Minister, Paul Scully, has branded it as “bully-boy tactics”.

Barry Gardiner is the MP for Brent North. He has introduced a Private Members Bill to outlaw it. Barry launched his campaign at Jacob Douwe Egberts in Banbury. As he pointed out in an article for the influential Insititute of Employment Rights:

“Coffee consumption was up 40% during the lockdown and Jacobs Douwe Egbert made record profits, but that didn’t stop them threatening their workforce in Banbury with the sack unless they accepted a cut in wages of up to £12,000. No family should have to put up with that. I met hundreds of workers who told me what that loss of earnings meant for them: How do you pay your rent or your mortgage with a cut like that? How do you support your family? Every pound cut is a pound less to pay your rent, to pay your mortgage and the fear of eviction or repossession is very real.“

The Bill proposed by Barry has already attracted support from over 100 MPs from every single party in the House of Commons – including a growing number of Conservative MPs. Patrick Harrington, general secretary of Solidarity union, declared: “Barry Gardiners Bill should have the support of every honest working man and woman in our country. He is 100 percent right that legislation, not just fine words, is needed to stop this disgraceful tactic.”

STRIKE TO OPPOSE FIRE AND RE-HIRE

Workers who make cosmetics and pharmaceuticals sold by Boots are to strike against “fire and rehire” policies.

Manufacturer BCM Fareva, based in Nottingham, supplies products to the health and beauty retailer and other outlets.

Retail and distribution union Usdaw says BCM has threatened to “fire and rehire” its staff to cut pay and worsen conditions — a tactic being used by dozens of employers across Britain and affecting two million workers, according to the TUC.

The BCM workers will strike for 24 hours on Thursday, July 22.

Usdaw national officer Daniel Adams said: “The proposal to drastically cut sick pay and other terms and conditions for these key workers, who have given their all through the coronavirus pandemic, is totally unacceptable.

“The company is now in the process of threatening to ‘fire and rehire’ staff unless they accept these dramatic cuts.

“Our members have been left with little choice other than industrial action.”

NEWS AND VIEWS FROM OUR GENERAL SECRETARY

BUT WHO WILL BE SUBSIDISED?

In what was hailed as “the most important bit of post-Brexit legislation yet” in a government statement to the BBC The Subsidy Control Bill has been published.

The government say it will “create a new system for subsidies that can enable key domestic priorities, such as levelling up economic growth across the UK and driving our green industrial revolution“.

It will replace the state aid rules that applied when Britain was part of the European Union (EU). Those rules require EU member states to seek approval for government assistance to firms so that there is a “level playing field” for capitalist competition.

In practice, this means a corrupt EU-wide system of favours and deals. National governments are allowed to subsidise some corporations in their own country so long as they support similar moves in other countries.

British governments often used the EU regulations as an excuse for not nationalising industries to protect jobs and workers’ wages. They said such moves would be blocked as “unfair competition”.

In 2019, for example, the Tories argued they could not nationalise British Steel because of the rules.

On the face of it good news for British workers. So why am I not celebrating? I just have no confidence that instead of moving to a more self-sufficient and participatory economy it will just mean more cash for the bosses that the Tories favour.

I fear that their multibillion awards to their cronies during the pandemic will now just happen on a much larger and sleazier level.

FIRE AND REHIRE – ACAS PAPER PUBLISHED

Acas has published a paper on the use of fire and re-hire practices, following a fact-finding exercise commissioned by BEIS but the government is not expected to legislate.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for BEIS, Paul Scully has stated in parliament that ‘It is unacceptable and, frankly, immoral to use the threat of fire and rehire as a negotiating tactic to force through changes to people’s employment contracts, or for employers to turn to dismissal and rehiring too hastily, rather than continue to engage in meaningful negotiations.“

As to the way forward, Mr. Scully states:

“However, having carefully considered the report, the Government want to send a clear message to employers: even if your business is facing acute challenges, all other options to save jobs and a business should be exhausted before considering the dismissal and re-engagement of staff. I believe that we can achieve this working in partnership with businesses and workers, without heavy-handed legislation.“

In contrast, I believe that only legislation will stop the practice of fire and re-hire.

Patrick Harrington