Teachers’ leaders have said the prime minister must act to ban “fire and rehire” employment practices after warning that it is taking place in some private schools.

The NASUWT teachers’ union will tell the Conservative Party Conference today that the “fire and rehire” approach should not be used and will warn that it is causing “anxiety and misery” for teachers and their families. 

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The union says it has been dealing with several cases in private schools where employers have sought to dismiss staff and reengage them on inferior contracts.

The NASUWT’s general secretary Patrick Roach is calling on the government to scrap fire and rehire policies at a fringe meeting today at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

Dr Roach said: “The prime minister himself has described fire and rehire as ‘unacceptable as a negotiating tactic’.

“If the government accepts that arbitrarily changing employees’ contractual terms in this way is wrong then the government has a duty to act to outlaw the practice of dismissal and re-engagement,” he added.

“At present it is only through the collective action and protection offered by trade unions that workers are able to challenge attempts by employers to use dismissal and reengagement to downgrade their pay and working conditions.

“Teachers have been threatened with loss of employment, lower pay and pensions and even loss of their homes where housing is a part of their employment contracts.

“Fire and rehire is causing anxiety and misery for teachers and their families.”

“Workers should not be forced to take industrial action in order to protect themselves from exploitation. They need to know the law is on their side.”

“There is an unarguable case to change the law to protect the rights of all working people.”