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P&O Ferries sacks 800 workers but crew refuse to leave ships P&O Ferries sacks 800 workers but crew refuse to leave ships
(32 minutes later)
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Staff were told via video call your "final day of employment is today"Staff were told via video call your "final day of employment is today"
P&O Ferries has sacked 800 staff, with workers told in a video call that today was their "final day of employment".P&O Ferries has sacked 800 staff, with workers told in a video call that today was their "final day of employment".
Some crew are defying orders and refusing to leave their ships in protest. The firm said it was a "tough" decision but it would "not be a viable business" without the changes.Some crew are defying orders and refusing to leave their ships in protest. The firm said it was a "tough" decision but it would "not be a viable business" without the changes.
Union RMT said crewmembers were being replaced with cheaper overseas workers.Union RMT said crewmembers were being replaced with cheaper overseas workers.
P&O said its services would not operate for the "next few days", with passengers told to use other companies.P&O said its services would not operate for the "next few days", with passengers told to use other companies.
Private security officers have been sent onto one ship docked at Larne Harbour in Northern Ireland to remove staff on board, according to the RMT.Private security officers have been sent onto one ship docked at Larne Harbour in Northern Ireland to remove staff on board, according to the RMT.
Gary Jackson, a full time officer and RMT union member onboard the Pride of Hull, said crew docked in Hull were informed they had lost their jobs through a pre-recorded message at 11am and had not received anything in writing from the company.Gary Jackson, a full time officer and RMT union member onboard the Pride of Hull, said crew docked in Hull were informed they had lost their jobs through a pre-recorded message at 11am and had not received anything 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"."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".
'We've been abandoned by P&O' say sacked staff
East Hull Labour MP Karl Turner said "new foreign crew [are] waiting to board the Pride of Hull" while the current crew onboard have begun a "sit-in".East Hull Labour MP Karl Turner said "new foreign crew [are] waiting to board the Pride of Hull" while the current crew onboard have begun a "sit-in".
The union said it had instructed members to stay on board their vessels once they have docked or risk being "locked out" of their jobs.The union said it had instructed members to stay on board their vessels once they have docked or risk being "locked out" of their jobs.
James Sloth, who has worked for P&O Ferries in Dover for around four years, said he felt abandoned by the company after all he received "was a three minute pre-recorded message saying we are out of a job. Nothing else."James Sloth, who has worked for P&O Ferries in Dover for around four years, said he felt abandoned by the company after all he received "was a three minute pre-recorded message saying we are out of a job. Nothing else."
"It was a complete surprise. I would have understood if it was at the height of Covid, but now we're seeing the end of travel restrictions and the start of summer bookings. So this has come completely out of the blue," Mr Sloth said."It was a complete surprise. I would have understood if it was at the height of Covid, but now we're seeing the end of travel restrictions and the start of summer bookings. So this has come completely out of the blue," Mr Sloth said.
RMT union members blocked traffic in Dover today in response to the 800 redundancies announced by P&O FerriesRMT union members blocked traffic in Dover today in response to the 800 redundancies announced by P&O Ferries
Darren Procter from the RMT said staff were given no warning.Darren Procter from the RMT said staff were given no warning.
"We were informed that there were coaches full of individuals looking to replace the staff with no consultation with the staff or unions. We've seen minibuses full of workers and security staff who have had handcuff training. This is how they plan to treat staff who show resistance.""We were informed that there were coaches full of individuals looking to replace the staff with no consultation with the staff or unions. We've seen minibuses full of workers and security staff who have had handcuff training. This is how they plan to treat staff who show resistance."
Downing street said the way staff were told was "completely unacceptable". Downing Street said the way staff were told was "completely unacceptable".
The spokesman said the government had not been given any notice of the action, saying it did not agree with the so-called fire and rehire practice of sacking workers and re-employing them on different terms, adding it would be "dismayed" if that was the intention of P&O.The spokesman said the government had not been given any notice of the action, saying it did not agree with the so-called fire and rehire practice of sacking workers and re-employing them on different terms, adding it would be "dismayed" if that was the intention of P&O.
Security staff on board the Norbay in the Port of LiverpoolSecurity staff on board the Norbay in the Port of Liverpool
P&O said its survival was dependent on "making swift and significant changes now".P&O said its survival was dependent on "making swift and significant changes now".
"We have made a £100m loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent DP World. This is not sustainable. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.""We have made a £100m loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent DP World. This is not sustainable. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries."
P&O Ferries services scheduled for Monday include 14 between Dover and Calais, three between Liverpool and Dublin and seven between Larne in County Antrim and Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway.P&O Ferries services scheduled for Monday include 14 between Dover and Calais, three between Liverpool and Dublin and seven between Larne in County Antrim and Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway.
The cross-Channel operator has said on Twitter that sailings between Dover and Calais scheduled for today will no longer run, and customers with tickets were instructed to sail with rival ferry company DFDS.The cross-Channel operator has said on Twitter that sailings between Dover and Calais scheduled for today will no longer run, and customers with tickets were instructed to sail with rival ferry company DFDS.
P&O Ferries is one of the UK's leading ferry companies, carrying more than 10 million passengers a year before the pandemic and about 15% of all freight cargo in and out of the UK.P&O Ferries is one of the UK's leading ferry companies, carrying more than 10 million passengers a year before the pandemic and about 15% of all freight cargo in and out of the UK.
However, like many transport operators it saw demand slump in the pandemic, forcing it to announce 1,110 job cuts.However, like many transport operators it saw demand slump in the pandemic, forcing it to announce 1,110 job cuts.
P&O Ferries claimed almost £15m in government grants in 2020, which included furlough payments for its employees.P&O Ferries claimed almost £15m in government grants in 2020, which included furlough payments for its employees.
P&O is owned by DP World, the multi-national ports and logistics company based in Dubai. It paid a £270m dividend to shareholders in 2020. P&O is owned by DP World, the multi-national ports and logistics company based in Dubai. It paid a £270m dividend to shareholders in 2020.
'Frustrating''Frustrating'
Lauren Shaw and her husband told the BBC they were booked with P&O to travel on a ferry from Cairnryan to Larne at 16:00 this afternoon. "We had a phone call at 10am to tell us there would be no sailings today and that they hadn't been told a reason why," she said. Lauren Shaw and her husband told the BBC they were booked with P&O to travel on a ferry from Cairnryan to Larne at 16:00 on Thursday. "We had a phone call at 10am to tell us there would be no sailings today and that they hadn't been told a reason why," she said.
With no further information, the couple have started travelling to the port because they live four hours away - and are hoping for an update soon.With no further information, the couple have started travelling to the port because they live four hours away - and are hoping for an update soon.
"They said that if we get to the port, they may be able to put us on Stena Line, but it's not guaranteed," Lauren added. "It's really frustrating.""They said that if we get to the port, they may be able to put us on Stena Line, but it's not guaranteed," Lauren added. "It's really frustrating."
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