WORKERS at Clarks footwear have defeated bosses’ attempts to fire and rehire them after strike action and a wave of support from the public, it was announced today.

The workers, who are members of the Community union, are employed at the firm’s distribution centre in Street, Somerset.

They have accepted a deal negotiated through conciliation service Acas.

In a statement, the union and Clarks said: “We are pleased that a resolution has been reached that works in everybody’s interests, protects Community members’ livelihoods, and recognises their loyalty to Clarks.”

The TUC has estimated that 9 per cent of the UK workforce – about three million workers – have recently faced attacks on their pay and conditions by unscrupulous bosses using the reprehensible fire-and-rehire tactic, under which workers are sacked then offered their jobs back on lower pay and worse conditions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned fire and rehire but the government has rejected legislation to outlaw it.