Ex-worker disgusted by ‘fire and rehire policy’ at factory
FIRM THAT MAKES PRODUCTS FOR BOOTS ACCUSED OF GIVING STAFF ‘NO CHOICE’ ON NEW CONTRACTS
A FORMER employee at a factory that makes products for pharmacy giant Boots claims she was the victim of a “fire and rehire” plan.
Katrina Cozens, 57, from West Bridgford who worked as an analytic chemist at BCM Fareva’s factory in Beeston has labelled the actions of the company “disgusting”.
She left the company after 14 years on October 14 in response to what she claimed was a “fire and rehire” policy being used by the French pharmaceuticals business which manufactures products for Boots and bought the D10 factory site from Boots in 2017.
This is a controversial but not illegal practice where companies dismiss workers and offer to re-employ them shortly after, under new terms and conditions.
She said: “I think it is blackmail because you get no choice, you either sign or you get sacked. I was so disgusted with them that I ‘chose’ not to sign the new contract and was subsequently fired.
“It takes away the majority of people’s rights that had been built up and sick pay was reduced, there was a loss of four per cent from my pension and a reduction in life assurance. It was all stripped back to the statutory minimum. I could afford to leave but for my colleagues in their 20s and 30s they have families and bills to pay, they’ve been forced to take it.”
A letter to Ms Cozens from BCM Fareva outlined that employees’ pensions, life assurance, sick pay would be decreased by the contract change. It also stated that any employees that did not accept the new contract would have their employment terminated.
“The majority of these people at BCM Fareva worked on site throughout the pandemic as essential workers.
There was no working from home for us and now we’re treated like this. How can it be right that someone employed on a secure permanent contract can be sacked if they do not sign a new contract on lesser terms and conditions and lower pay?
“It’s exploitation and bosses taking advantage of their workforce.”
Officials at Usdaw, the union representing shop and distribution workers, organised for members to take industrial action at BCM Fareva after a yearlong dispute on July 22. This was followed by two further stoppages on July 30-July 31 and on August 1-2.
Ms Cozens was angry with the way she claimed BCM Fareva acted during these negotiations. She said: “I think the people there are disgusted by it too, to take everything away and not consider it more is awful for those still there. We have not been offered any compensation for the loss of our rights.
“They talked directly to employees as Usdaw refused to negotiate until the idea of ‘fire and rehire’ was off the table, and so the workers didn’t really know how to negotiate properly with a big business. They cut anything they could with us, but they rejected any idea of cutting company cars for high-up people.”
Daniel Adams, Usdaw National Officer, said: “Usdaw remains in dispute with BCM Fareva after they effectively imposed reduced terms and conditions of employment under the threat of fire and rehire. It has meant significantly worse sick pay and pension provision and we are exploring all options to support members.”
Ms Cozens wrote to Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards to ask her to attend a debate on Friday October 22 after a private member’s bill to stop fire and rehire was put to Parliament. But the bill was blocked by ministers.
When contacted by the Post, BCM Fareva declined to comment.
I ‘chose’ not to sign the new contract and was subsequently fired. Katrina Cozens