Fire and Rehire disgrace

Questions have been raised in the House of Commons following housebuilder Taylor Wimpey firing and rehiring construction workers in the North East, with an MP branding the practice “disgraceful”.

Unite has criticised the company after dismissal notices were handed out to 31 joiners and 19 scaffolders for the purpose of saving money on bonus pay. 

In construction, bonus pay frequently makes up half of workers’ actual pay, and Taylor Wimpey is planning to cut bonus pay by over 30 per cent.

The construction workers opened a strike ballot today (9 Nov) following termination notices being given to workers on 1 October, which they were forced to sign by 7 October, with Taylor Wimpey planning to hire them on inferior contracts.

Unite has been supporting the construction workers who attempted to raise concerns via several collective grievances and were denied their statutory right to do so. Meanwhile, they have also requested financial information which would have been vital for a meaningful consultation and to come to an agreement but this has never been supplied.

From 1 January 2027, under the 2025 Employment Rights Act, fire and rehire will be prohibited, something that Ian Lavery MP for Blyth and Ashington feels could be behind Taylor Wimpey’s move. 

In the Commons Mr Lavery told MPs during Business Questions that the firm has issued dismissal notices to the joiners and scaffolders to force them onto reduced terms and conditions.

The Northumberland Gazette reported that Mr Lavery had said: “On January 1 next year, the Government will rightly ban the disgraceful practice of fire and rehire, yet some employers appear determined to exploit it before those protections take effect.

“In the North East, Taylor Wimpey has issued dismissal notices to 31 joiners and 19 scaffolders in an attempt to force them onto worse terms and conditions, leaving hardworking families facing uncertainty in the run-up to Christmas.

“Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on this shameful practice, and join me in urging Taylor Wimpey to withdraw these notices and return to meaningful negotiations with the workforce and Unite the Union?”

Unite has fought for members working in companies that try to impose fire and rehire practices before, and Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will never stand by and allow the fire and rehire of our members. This is a cynical move by a highly profitable company which is choosing to prioritise profit over its hardworking staff.

“There is no justification for this decision. Unite will fight it every step of the way.”

Taylor Wimpey is one of the biggest housebuilders in the UK. Its 2025 financial accounts showed it had an adjusted operating profit of £420.6m.

The firm has not provided any evidence of a financial necessity to make these changes at its North East base, located in Sunderland.

Unite is in the process of considering all options available including industrial, legal and political avenues to ensure the firing and rehiring of these workers is reversed.

Unite regional officer Greg Robson said: “Taylor Wimpey has serious questions to answer about how it has treated these workers. It is clear it is taking advantage of the fact fire and hire has not been outlawed.

“Unite will continue to support our affected members throughout this process, while pushing Taylor Wimpey for the information we are entitled to. We are also looking at all avenues to fight this, including industrial action.”

Unite national officer Adam Oakes added, “We are deeply concerned to see Taylor Wimpy act in such a way. Their actions are outside of the Construction Industrially Joint Council (CIJC) national working rule agreement of which they are a signatory to via their membership of the house builder federation.

“Unite will fully support our members in this dispute, and has raised concerns with the CIJC,  requesting an emergency board meeting.”

The strike ballot at Taylor Wimpey in Sunderland opens today (9 Nov) and closes on the 23 November. 

By Keith Hatch