THE widely condemned practice of fire and rehire is “immoral, abhorrent, legalised bullying” and must end, members of retail union Usdaw demanded today.

The anti-worker tactic, which sees staff sacked and re-employed on inferior terms and conditions, should be outlawed, according to a motion unanimously backed by delegates gathered in Blackpool for the union’s annual conference. 

Usdaw is engaged in a potentially ground-breaking legal battle with supermarket giant Tesco over the company’s threat to use fire and rehire to remove a long-held financial benefit from its workforce.