[UK] Unions declare P&O’s mass sackings ‘a scandalous betrayal’

UK ferry operator P&O Ferries has sacked about 800 crew across its fleet after unexpectedly halting all its sailings yesterday, Personnel Today reports.

It is believed that the company plans to use agency staff to operate its ships after P&O Ferries - owned by Dubai-based DP World - told its crew to return to port and await a “major announcement”.

Unions called the surprise move a “scandalous betrayal” and have said a standoff could evolve with crews instructed not to leave vessels while coaches of replacement crew and security staff are already in place at Dover and Hull.

An employment lawyer told Personnel Today that P&O’s action may be a serious legal risk and could expose the company to hundreds of unfair dismissal claims.

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said it had to take a “very difficult but necessary decision” to “secure the future viability of our business, which employs an additional 2,200 people and supports billions in trade in and out of the UK”.

The company said, “In its current state, P&O Ferries is not a viable business. We have made a £100m loss year-on-year, which has been covered by our parent DP World. This is not sustainable. Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now.”

According to the RMT union, private security officers have been sent onto a ship docked at Larne Harbour in Northern Ireland to remove staff on board. Gary Jackson - a full-time officer on the Pride of Hull - reportedly told the BBC that the crew docked in Hull were informed they had lost their jobs through a pre-recorded message at 11am on 17 March and had not received any information in writing from the company.

“We’ve still not received any detail further on what they will offer. We can see from the ship two vans, one with agency staff and the other with what we believe are security staff to remove us… and that’s why the captain here lifted the gangway,” Mr Jackson said

Hull’s Labour MP, Karl Turner, said the sackings were “utterly deplorable predatory practice taking full advantage of the gap in the legislation”.

Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, called on the government to take action saying, “Unscrupulous employers cannot be given free rein to sack their workforce in secure jobs and replace with agency staff. The Conservative government must not give the green light to this appalling practice, and must act to secure the livelihoods of these workers.”

P&O is a leading ferry operator on the Dover-Calais crossing, the main sea link from Britain and Europe. It also sails from Hull to Rotterdam, Liverpool to Dublin and Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne.

Mick Lynch - the RMT general secretary -  said, “We have instructed our members to remain on board and are demanding our members across P&O’s UK operations are protected and that the secretary of state intervenes to save UK seafarers from the dole queue.”

The maritime union Nautilus International said the news was “a betrayal of British workers”. General secretary, Mark Dickinson, said, “It is nothing short of scandalous, given that this Dubai-owned company received British taxpayer’s money during the pandemic.

“There was no consultation and no notice given by P&O. Be assured, the full resources of Nautilus International stand ready to act in defence of our members. We have instructed our members to stay onboard until further notice.”

In May 2020 P&O Ferries said that it may have to make 1,100 out of its near 4,000 employees redundant as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was given £33m in emergency funding by the government to ensure freight kept sailing.

Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told the House of Commons he was “concerned” by the news. He said, “We will be taking steps later today, including ensuring officials are having urgent discussion with P&O about the situation, particularly concerning their workers.”

P&O Ferries made an apology to customers via Twitter, saying, “Regretfully, P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few hours. Our port teams will guide you and travel will be arranged via an alternative operator.” 

Cross-Channel ferry passengers and truck drivers were expected to be diverted to DFDS or Eurotunnel services. Passengers on Irish Sea crossings have been sent to Stena Line.

DP World purchased P&O Ferries for the second time in 2019, for £322m, after selling it earlier in the decade. It is believed to have been making escalating losses as the rising cost of diesel combined with disruption from COVID and post-Brexit paperwork in cross-Channel traffic. 

DP World - owned by Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund - stated it had never taken a dividend from P&O Ferries.

Source: Personnel Today

(Quotes via original reporting)

UK ferry operator P&O Ferries has sacked about 800 crew across its fleet after unexpectedly halting all its sailings yesterday, Personnel Today reports.

It is believed that the company plans to use agency staff to operate its ships after P&O Ferries - owned by Dubai-based DP World - told its crew to return to port and await a “major announcement”.

Unions called the surprise move a “scandalous betrayal” and have said a standoff could evolve with crews instructed not to leave vessels while coaches of replacement crew and security staff are already in place at Dover and Hull.

An employment lawyer told Personnel Today that P&O’s action may be a serious legal risk and could expose the company to hundreds of unfair dismissal claims.

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said it had to take a “very difficult but necessary decision” to “secure the future viability of our business, which employs an additional 2,200 people and supports billions in trade in and out of the UK”.

The company said, “In its current state, P&O Ferries is not a viable business. We have made a £100m loss year-on-year, which has been covered by our parent DP World. This is not sustainable. Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now.”

According to the RMT union, private security officers have been sent onto a ship docked at Larne Harbour in Northern Ireland to remove staff on board. Gary Jackson - a full-time officer on the Pride of Hull - reportedly told the BBC that the crew docked in Hull were informed they had lost their jobs through a pre-recorded message at 11am on 17 March and had not received any information in writing from the company.

“We’ve still not received any detail further on what they will offer. We can see from the ship two vans, one with agency staff and the other with what we believe are security staff to remove us… and that’s why the captain here lifted the gangway,” Mr Jackson said

Hull’s Labour MP, Karl Turner, said the sackings were “utterly deplorable predatory practice taking full advantage of the gap in the legislation”.

Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, called on the government to take action saying, “Unscrupulous employers cannot be given free rein to sack their workforce in secure jobs and replace with agency staff. The Conservative government must not give the green light to this appalling practice, and must act to secure the livelihoods of these workers.”

P&O is a leading ferry operator on the Dover-Calais crossing, the main sea link from Britain and Europe. It also sails from Hull to Rotterdam, Liverpool to Dublin and Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne.

Mick Lynch - the RMT general secretary -  said, “We have instructed our members to remain on board and are demanding our members across P&O’s UK operations are protected and that the secretary of state intervenes to save UK seafarers from the dole queue.”

The maritime union Nautilus International said the news was “a betrayal of British workers”. General secretary, Mark Dickinson, said, “It is nothing short of scandalous, given that this Dubai-owned company received British taxpayer’s money during the pandemic.

“There was no consultation and no notice given by P&O. Be assured, the full resources of Nautilus International stand ready to act in defence of our members. We have instructed our members to stay onboard until further notice.”

In May 2020 P&O Ferries said that it may have to make 1,100 out of its near 4,000 employees redundant as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was given £33m in emergency funding by the government to ensure freight kept sailing.

Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told the House of Commons he was “concerned” by the news. He said, “We will be taking steps later today, including ensuring officials are having urgent discussion with P&O about the situation, particularly concerning their workers.”

P&O Ferries made an apology to customers via Twitter, saying, “Regretfully, P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few hours. Our port teams will guide you and travel will be arranged via an alternative operator.” 

Cross-Channel ferry passengers and truck drivers were expected to be diverted to DFDS or Eurotunnel services. Passengers on Irish Sea crossings have been sent to Stena Line.

DP World purchased P&O Ferries for the second time in 2019, for £322m, after selling it earlier in the decade. It is believed to have been making escalating losses as the rising cost of diesel combined with disruption from COVID and post-Brexit paperwork in cross-Channel traffic. 

DP World - owned by Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund - stated it had never taken a dividend from P&O Ferries.

Source: Personnel Today

(Quotes via original reporting)