Shock decision by P&O Ferries, first stops the ships and then fires 800 seafarers via Zoom



Obviously the announcement by P&O Ferries to suspend seaborne services with immediate effect has raised fears for the fate of the shipping company's workers, despite the company's reassurance of the company. presentation of a programme to ensure the long-term economic sustainability of the business. Soon they returned to mind cases in which some important businesses have ignobly suspended work and closed their facilities to then notify employees, once at home, that they had been fired. It seemed impossible that P&O Ferries could resort to this shameful method, instead it is precisely the procedure that he chose to communicate to 800 employees their dismissal with immediate effect. A news that, if in other dishonorable circumstances was given by e-mail, just as ignominiously P&O Ferries communicated to the workers with a Zoom message.

The scenario, however, would be even worse than the one described so far. "We are receiving reports," said Mick Lynch, secretary-general of Britain's National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), who said security guards were boarding ships with handcuffs. steer away the crew so that it can be replaced by cheaper labor. We are predisposing an urgent legal action and ask the government once again to take action to stop what is quickly turning into one of the most shameful acts in the history of industrial relations. British. If this happens to the P&O-he stressed the RMT's secretary-general-it can happen anywhere and we call for a mass trade union mobilization and a wider public mobilisation of protest against the company. "

Even the United Nations 'union, expressing "its shock at P&O Ferries' decision to fire the entire maritime workforce in the UK to replace it with cheap labor, has asked P&O" to take a step back from the savage dismissals and work to save jobs in the United Kingdom. " The union specified that the 160 P&O workers who adhere to the United Nations were not among those who lose their jobs, "the union said in a statement." Today's initiative, which unions have not been aware of, is causing widespread support. " discomfort and insecurity among adherents. " "This is a shocking move on the part of P&O that should not be tolerated," said Sharon Graham, Secretary General of the United Nations. United sends its own solidarity to maritime personnel, whose service as key workers during the pandemic was quickly forgotten by P&O. We offer you-continued Graham-our support as we try to defend your jobs. It is a disgrace that any employer in the UK can treat their workers in this way. "

"In a ruthless sector," said Bobby Morton, chief national officer for ports and the United Nations maritime industry-P&O was the last remaining leader in the maritime sector to employ British workers under British contracts. This move today sends a very worrying signal by revealing that these standards are now under attack. Despite the fact that the associates of the United States are not overwhelmed by this announcement, this move will only bring uncertainty to all the P&O's work. We urge the company to take a step back from this drastic measure of cost reduction and to cooperate with all P&O unions to save jobs. "

In a message via Twitter, Transport Minister Grant Shapps said he was "very concerned about the news coming from P&O Ferries this morning and we will talk to the company today to understand the impact on workers and passengers."

Already, because, in addition to not communicating anything to employees before suspending maritime services, equally the ride-hailing company that is part of Dubai's DP World Group has made it to customers, simply announcing that it "Unfortunately, in the next few hours the services will not be able to operate and our ports will assist you and travel with alternative operators will be organised."

In justification of an initiative that for as it has been implemented is not justifiable, P&O Ferries explained that " at the present state P&O Ferries is not an economically viable business. From year to year we have recorded losses of 100 million pounds that have been covered by our parent company DP World. This is not sustainable. Our survival depends on implementing rapid and significant changes now. Without these changes, there is no future for P&O Ferres. " "These circumstances have led to a very difficult but necessary decision, which has been taken only after taking all available options seriously," the company said in a statement.

The subsequent lines of the communique assume that perhaps the cost cutting will not stop at the dismissal of 800 workers : "as part of the process we are starting today, we are communicating to 800 seafarers." notices of immediate dismissal and we will compensate them for this lack of notice with more consistent compensatory packages. "

"Taking this difficult decision, we are ensuring the future sustainability of our business that employs 2,200 other people and supports billions of trade to and from the United Kingdom," the statement said. And we are making sure that we can continue to serve our customers in the way that they have required us for many years. "