Sadiq Khan urged to ban fires, rehire bus companies in London UK News

Sadiq Khan has been urged to ban London bus companies from using fire and rehire tactics by a leading union.

Unite, which represents transport workers across the country, called on the current mayor of London to ban employers who use fire and rehire tactics from bidding on future TfL contracts.

It follows a dispute between Manchester bus drivers and the Go Ahead group, which also operates nearly a quarter of London’s buses, over new contracts.

Unite has called on the current mayors of London and Manchester to take action against bus companies that “fire workers and rehire them on lower terms”.

Sharon Graham, Managing Director of Unite, said: “Today we call on Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan to publicly support a statement that bans employers who use fire and rehire themselves from bidding on future contracts in major cities. from London and Manchester. Warm words in support of Manchester bus drivers who are under attack are simply not enough and London workers could be next. It’s time to act.

“It is obviously wrong for companies to fire workers and rehire them on lower terms. Workers need more than words of sympathy. As the government drags its heels, Labor mayors of Manchester and London must lead the way by using their powers to ban the fire and rehire under their care.

Today, a spokesperson for the Labor Party in London said that Sadiq Khan believes that firing and rehiring “is a totally unacceptable practice – as we have seen with British Gas this week”.

The spokesperson said: “As mayor of London, Sadiq has established a responsible procurement policy to ensure that the GLA uses its purchases to increase wages and conditions in companies paid to provide services to people. Londoners.

“If re-elected, Sadiq is committed to regularly reviewing this policy to ensure that we get the best possible deal for Londoners while creating sustainable and well-paying jobs.”

This week, nearly 500 British Gas engineers lost their jobs after refusing to sign new contracts that would have increased their working hours and lowered their average wages.