LOGISTICS workers will use strike action if needed to defend pay and conditions against bosses’ “creeping culture” of fire-and-rehire tactics, the Unite union pledged today.

Warning that shop stewards across the distribution and retail sectors were reporting attempts by employers to “salami slice” pay and conditions, blaming “market conditions,” the union signalled its intention to draw “a line in the sand” against the practice.

Unite reps at a number of companies, including Argos, Eddie Stobart, the Co-op, Gist, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Wincanton, were concerned at the proliferation of “fire and rehire” proposals, the union said.