P&O Ferries: Latest news as sailings suspended and all UK seafaring staff sacked with immediate effect

‘They were told they had five minutes to get their stuff and get off the ships’ - mother of fired worker

One woman at the Port of Dover, who does not want to be named, has a husband and son who lost their jobs overnight.

She said: "When P&O suspended sailings this morning, crews were waiting on the ships with no idea what was happening - even the captains didn’t know.

"Then pictures emerged of three coach loads of foreign workers waiting at ports to take their jobs. They were already wearing P&O uniforms - yet the staff still hadn’t been told they were being let go.

"They were told they had five minutes to get their stuff and get off the ships. These guys are week on week off workers who have called these ships home for half of the year every year.

"They have personal effects in lockers which they can’t get to - clothes, bedding, photographs and in some cases financial documents which will be taken out and thrown.

"My son is an apprentice. With 350 people competing for jobs at sea, they’re unlikely to be able to find a ferry company to take them on to finish their apprenticeships. Their coursework is on the ships waiting to be thrown out. It’s highly immoral and another insult from P&O to East Kent."

It is understood security teams were on-hand as staff left their posts - with replacement teams of agency workers waiting for them on the dockside.

One source said,"16 handcuff-trained security people" were involved. P&O Ferries employs around 4,000 staff nationwide.

Additional reporting by agencies.

Lucy Thackray17 March 2022 14:59

Sacked P&O workers clash with motorists

Fired P&O Ferries workers in Dover have clashed with motorists after blocking a road close to the port.

Dozens of employees who lost their jobs stood on the road with banners and flags saying “Stop the P&O Jobs carve up”.

A lorry driver trying to enter the port began shouting and beeping at those in the road, before being told, “We’re not moving”.

One of the protesters, who had worked for the company for decades, told the PA news agency: “I refuse to move from this road. All this service for nothing.

“The police will have to take me away.”

Lucy Thackray17 March 2022 14:50

‘This appalling employment transaction cannot be completed' says top Tory MP

The senior Conservative MP Huw Merriman, chair of the Transport Select Committee, has deplored the action of P&O Ferries in sacking 800 seafarers – who are set to be replaced by agency staff on inferior contracts.

Mr Merriman, who represents the constituency of Bexhill & Battle, along the south coast, called the move “deeply concerning”.

He said: “The government must do everything it can to ensure that this appalling employment transaction cannot be completed.

“Concern remains as to whether this is lawful. Firing loyal staff and replacing them with cheaper labour sourced from elsewhere is not a model that the public will wear.

“That model was not acceptable when our national flag carrier airline attempted to adopt it, and it is not acceptable now. The government should make it clear that it will not condone this behaviour.

“P&O’s parent company, DP World, must understand that British customers won’t do business with companies that treat their staff with contempt.”

Simon Calder17 March 2022 14:36

Crew informed of job losses over Microsoft Teams

Shortly before noon, P&O Ferries crew were told via a Microsoft Teams meeting that they were no longer employed. Instead, they would be replaced by agency staff on inferior contracts.

Some were told they could apply for positions through these agencies.

Many of the seafarers are members of the RMT union, which has called on them to stage a sit-in on board the ferries.

The BBC obtained footage of the meeting in which staff were informed they had lost their jobs.

Simon Calder17 March 2022 14:20

Legal battle ‘inevitable’, say experts

If P&O Ferries seafaring workers are dismissed and replaced by agency staff, a legal battle will be “inevitable”, experts have warned.

Joseph Lappin, head of employment at UK law firm Stewarts, said: “The Nautilus International union believes that all crew members will be dismissed with immediate effect and has already declared that it will ‘act in defence of’ its members.

“If all crew members are dismissed and replaced with agency workers, a legal battle is inevitable.

“It remains to be seen whether P&O can justify the dismissals. Why now and why so suddenly? Based on the limited information available to us, it looks like the dismissals will be both substantively and procedurally unfair, giving rise to claims of unfair dismissal.

“However, if P&O can demonstrate that the sudden dismissals are necessary and crucial to the survival of the business, perhaps to deal with the pressures imposed on the company by Brexit, rising energy costs and the pandemic, an Employment Tribunal might find that P&O’s conduct was reasonable.”

Helen Coffey17 March 2022 14:08

Ministers and officials speaking to P&O Ferries ‘later today'

Responding to P&O Ferries suspending its sailings, a Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman said: “The DfT is working with the Kent Resilience Forum and all local partners to ensure the free flow of traffic in Kent.

”There are other operators running services on cross Channel routes, so passengers and goods can continue to travel.

“Ministers and officials will be speaking with P&O Ferries later today to understand more about the changes and the impact on staff and passengers.”

Helen Coffey17 March 2022 13:49

P&O Ferries sailings suspended for ‘next few days'

P&O Ferries has said all sailings will be suspended “for the next few days” following confirmation that UK seafaring staff will be made redundant.

The company posted on Twitter: “P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few days.

“We are advising travellers of alternative arrangements.”

Helen Coffey17 March 2022 13:28

P&O Ferries confirms it is axing 800 staff

After hours of rumour, speculation and – at the ports – some chaos, P&O Ferries has issued a statement about the sudden sacking of 800 seafarers.

A spokesperson for the ferry firm said: “P&O Ferries plays a critical role in keeping trade flowing, supply chains moving, and connecting families and friends across the North and Irish seas and the English Channel. We have been at the heart of this service for years and we are committed to serving these vital routes.

“However, 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. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.

“These circumstances have resulted in a very difficult but necessary decision, which was only taken after seriously considering all the available options. As part of the process we are starting today, we are providing 800 seafarers with immediate severance notices and will be compensating them for this lack of advance notice with enhanced compensation packages.

“In making this tough decision, we are securing the future viability of our business which employs an additional 2,200 people and supports billions in trade in and out of the UK. And we are ensuring that we can continue serving our customers in a way that they have demanded from us for many years.”

Simon Calder17 March 2022 13:22

Maritime union tells members to ‘stay onboard’ P&O ships 'until further notice’

Mark Dickinson, general secretary of maritime union Nautilus International, said: “The news that P&O Ferries is sacking the crew across its entire UK fleet is a betrayal of British workers.

”It is nothing short of scandalous given that this Dubai-owned company received millions of pounds of British taxpayers' 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 believe it is in our members’ best interests to stay onboard until further notice.”

Helen Coffey17 March 2022 13:06

Pride of Hull ‘will refuse to allow the police to board the vessel'

There are reports that the captain of P&O Ferries ship the Pride of Hull will refuse to allow the police to board if they attempt to do so.

Labour MP Karl Turner posted on social media: “I’m hearing that the captain of the Pride of Hull will refuse to allow the police to board the vessel if @POferries ask them to do so.

“The official sit in of the ship is supported by both @nautilusint members (officers) and @RMTunion members.”

Helen Coffey17 March 2022 13:01

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