Workers in Southall have gone to parliament to protest against a supplier of major supermarkets after they were hit with a fire and rehire threat. 

1,000 workers from Pilgrims Food Masters, who supply Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Aldi, and Morrisons, have been told they would be fired and rehired on worse terms, such as no paid breaks, reduced sick pay and the removal of Diwali holiday pay.  

More than 100 staff have already been made redundant by the company based in Southall with the closure of the Collett Way plant and around 100 workers have gone to parliament for a meeting with Shadow Employment Minister Justin Madders and other MPs.

Virendra Sharma, Ealing Southall's MP, said: "It is absolutely shocking that Pilgrim's Food Masters is set to fire and rehire the dedicated and hardworking employees in my constituency, Ealing Southall, only to rehire them on worse terms and conditions.   

"I've fought this outdated practice since the 1970s and it's disgraceful to see it rear its ugly head once again at a time when workers across the country face a deteriorating cost of living crisis.   

"We must oppose this barbaric policy at every turn." 

GMB Union have more than 1,000 members who work at Pilgrims Food Masters, who are predominantly low paid women of Punjabi, Sri Lankan and Somali heritage.  

Perry Philips, GMB Regional Organiser, said: "Fire and rehire is a cruel, outdated practice that has no place in the modern world.  

"This is a low paid, predominantly women workforce – many of whose families have worked at Pligrim for generations. 

"And this is the thanks they get? It's outrageous.  

"Workers are already terrified about how they will pay their bills; many are already relying on foodbanks. This will make things so much worse.  

"GMB calls on Pligrim to do the right thing by its loyal workforce: stop this savage scheme before it's too late."