STRIKING Clarks shoe company workers marched in Somerset at the weekend against being “fired and rehired” on lower wages and worse conditions.

Hundreds of supporters joined the strikers, who work at Clarks' warehouse in Street and have been out since October 4.

The Clarks staff, members of union Community, were applauded and cheered by shoppers as they marched through the village.

Community general secretary Roy Rickhuss told a rally after the march: “We’re here to send a message to Clarks. Take fire and re-hire off the table. Do not treat your workers in this way. You must end fire and rehire.”

TUC deputy general secretary Paul Nowak said: “We’re here today to show solidarity with the striking Clarks workers who are standing up to the dreadful tactics of their employer using fire and rehire.

“I’m angry and frustrated that the government doesn’t stop this fire and rehire right now.”

Striker and union rep Trevor Stephen said: “We’ve been left with no option but to do this. We need to make a stand. We’ve got to keep growing and stay strong.”

In October Tory MPs threw out a Commons proposal from Labour MP Barry Gardiner to make fire and rehire unlawful.

Clarks was taken over by Hong Kong-based investor LionRock Capital in March, which then launched the fire and rehire attack.

The company said it was taking action because it had lost money during the pandemic.

The TUC estimates that almost 10 per cent of Britain’s 29.3 million workforce is now facing the infamous fire and rehire tactic to cut wages, sick pay, holiday pay and other conditions.