TWO Crewe councillors are seeking assurances Cheshire East Council won't deploy 'fire and rehire'.

The borough council has been asked to guarantee it will steer clear of the controversial practice, which involves workers having to reapply for their jobs on worse pay, terms and conditions or face the sack.

Labour councillors Laura Smith (Crewe South) and Connor Naismith (Crewe West) Lab) also want the authority to avoid employing contractors who use the methods and are calling on council leader Sam Corcoran to write to PM Boris Johnson demanding he outlaw 'fire and rehire'.

A motion put forward by the two members to tomorrow's (Wednesday) meeting of the full council states: "One in 10 workers have experienced 'fire and rehire' with BAME workers facing this at twice the rate of white workers, since March 2020.

"A quarter of all workers have experienced a worsening of their terms and conditions – including a cut in their pay – since the pandemic began."

The two councillors said the PM, while condemning it, had "continually refused to take action to outlaw the practice", meaning many workers had been forced to accept worse terms and conditions, so they were working longer hours for lower pay, "with what can be devastating consequences for workers and their families".

Councillors are being asked to support the motion, which also seeks to confirm the council has a procurement official practice "that ensures we are working with contractors that have good employment, trade union, equality and environmental records".

The council meeting takes place at Macclesfield Leisure Centre at 11am (October 20).