ITF, ETF and Nautilus strongly condemn P&O Ferries



The International Transport Workers 'Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) have expressed "anger and condemnation over the news," the two international trade unions said in a statement. will dismiss its maritime workforce based in the UK and will entrust the work to unionized and inter-inal workers. " "Today's news is shocking," ITF Secretary General Stephen Cotton said in a statement. We condemn P&O in the strongest possible terms. We will not accept your initiative to eliminate unannounced jobs in its loyal maritime workforce. We all have to ask ourselves how a company can, in the true sense of the word, fire its entire workforce with less than 24 hours ' notice. Our trade unions are waiting for more information from P&O and DP World, its main shareholder, but ITF and ETF are ready to mobilize to defend the jobs of these workers. We are deeply concerned by reports that buses loaded with members of unionized crews and guards ready to handcuff are waiting in Dover and Hull, to be replaced and replaced by the British seamen. We are shocked and angry at the fact that P&O, a company that during the pandemic has endured thousands of pounds of British taxpayers ' money, intends to forcifully remove crews. "

"Today, the trade unions around the world stand with these workers," ETF Secretary General Livia Spera said in a statement. It's really stunning that, at a time when the world is just beginning to recover from a pandemic, with a war on our doorstep, P&O can activate itself to fire the entire workforce. Global maritime trade unions will do all they can to stop these appalling cuts in jobs. We will put pressure on shareholders, investors and P&O customers to ask P&O to withdraw its aggressive and cynical outsourcing attempt. The rights of these seafarers have been clearly violated and it is surprising that this could happen in major developed countries such as the United Kingdom. Instead of trying to ambush their workers, we strongly urge P&O to urgently meet with UK trade unions to find a motivable solution and end this clear abuse of the rights of these workers ".

For its part, the union Nautilus International has urged union seafarers to remain on board the ships after the announcement of dismissal from P&O Ferries. "The news that P&O Ferries is laying off the crews of its entire British fleet is a betrayal of British workers," Nautilus International Secretary General Mark Dickinson said in a statement. It is at least scandalous, given that this Dubai-owned company has received British taxpayer money during the pandemic. There has not been any consultation and no notice from P&O, " Dickinson said. Be assured that all the resources of Nautilus International are ready to act in defense of our associates. We believe it is in the interest of our associates to remain on board until further notice. "

" Today's action by P&O, the secretary-general of Nautilus International, follows several years in which the company has attempted to reduce wages, reduce the benefits of professional illness and introduce clauses of the dismissal in his collective bargaining agreement. P&O Ferries has also attempted to introduce a "strike ban clause". "

If the reaction of the unions to the news of the 800 redundancies was vehemently, the same cannot be said for that of the Port of Dover, the independent body that runs the English port of Dover, evidently worried about losing an important customer what is P&O Ferries operating on the route between the port of Dover and the French port of Calais. "The Port of Dover, which has made its hands on it, acknowledges how difficult it has been to announce today from P&O Ferries, but it also recognizes the scale of the financial challenge that the company, as a company, has been in the process of doing," the company said in a statement. had to deal with all of its own routes. The port will work with P&O Ferries in order for the operator-it is the appeal of Port of Dover-in the future to try to provide a financially viable service from Dover, but of course-it reads the statement from the institution, giving a shot to the circle and one at the bumps-our thoughts also go to all those who are directly affected by today's announcement. "