TESCO was attacked twice yesterday for paying workers poverty wages while raking in profits of £2.3 billion last year — and colluding in the sacking of almost 200 lorry drivers to save cash.

More than 20,000 people have signed an on-line petition demanding that Tesco pay its staff the living wage.

And yesterday more than 20 sacked drivers from a Tesco distribution centre in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, protested at the chain’s annual general meeting in London.

In January 2012 Tesco transferred their jobs to haulier Eddie Stobart, which gave them 90 days’ notice and then sacked them when they resisted with industrial action. Cheaper agency workers were then brought in.

Sacked driver Trevor Cheetham travelled over 170 miles from Barnsley to take part in the protest at Westminster’s Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. 

“All the drivers are absolutely disgusted and gutted at what Tesco and Stobart did — throwing 184 drivers out of the door along with their families,” he told the Star. 

He explained how two drivers are now terminally ill and face poverty with no sick pay and no in-death benefits for their families.

“It’s a depot that has been running 24 years and never had an industrial dispute until Stobart’s put their foot through the door and said what they could do, with Tesco’s backing.” he said.

The drivers’ union Unite is continuing the fight for its members’ case at a Sheffield employment tribunal.

And Tesco is also coming under fire for paying employees poverty wages.

In just three days, online pressure group 38 Degrees attracted more than 20,000 signatures for a petition demanding Tesco pay the living wage of £8.80 an hour in London and £7.65 elsewhere.

One former Tesco worker wrote: “I worked for Tesco for the majority of my adult life and saw first-hand the problems created by poverty pay.

“Too many of my colleagues struggled to get by even with a full-time role. Many juggled multiple jobs to make ends meet.”

Tesco employs 500,000 workers worldwide and 330,000 in Britain. The company was not available for comment.