P&O Ferries have broken their silence after an outcry across the UK following their decision to sack 800 staff on the spot over Zoom.
Nearly a quarter of employees were told via a video message on Thursday that it was their "final day of employment".
The cruise line firm cancelled all services for the next few days yesterday, creating global headlines as they replaced all former staff with agency workers.
Now the company have finally spoken as they released a statement, saying it was a "difficult decision" to make and stressed the company would have gone under without taking the drastic steps.
P&O Ferries were dubbed 'brutal', 'unfair' and 'despicable' by heartbroken workers last night as the news of their sudden redundancies hit home.
A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said this afternoon: "We know that for our staff this redundancy came without warning or prior consultation, and we fully understand that this has caused distress for them and their families.
“We took this difficult decision as a last resort and only after full consideration of all other options but, ultimately, we concluded that the business wouldn’t survive without fundamentally changed crewing arrangements, which in turn would inevitably result in redundancies.
“We also took the view, in good faith, that reaching agreement on the way forward would be impossible and against this background, that the process itself would be highly disruptive, not just for the business but for UK trade and tourism.
“We have offered enhanced severance terms to those affected to properly and promptly compensate them for the lack of warning and consultation."
P&O Ferries said the sacked staff would be given "enhanced" severance packages and said the move was a 'necessary decision' to protect its remaining 2,200 staff.
The Government is now looking into whether P&O Ferries broke the law.
The statement went on: "The changes we've made bring us into line with standard industry practice.
"All affected crew who were working yesterday were notified face-to-face and in-person on board their vessels.
“For crew who were off, P&O Ferries made all efforts to notify them personally: they were individually called on the phone, as well as via email and text.
“Virtual meetings were also held but only 261 of our 800 affected staff were on those calls.
“To try to minimise disruption for our customers, we contacted everyone we could reach.
“If any passengers have any queries about travelling with us, we encourage them to get in touch with our customer services team.
“Our aim is to have the first of our services running again in the next day or two as we lose £1m a day for each day they are not moving.
“The teams escorting the seafarers off our vessels were totally professional in handling this difficult task with all appropriate sensitivity.
“Contrary to rumours, none of our people wore balaclavas nor were they directed to use handcuffs nor force.”
A statement on firm's website yesterday says the decision was based on making "swift and significant" changes, leaving former staff devastated at the company they have accused of "scheming behind closed doors".
RMT union general secretary Mick Lynch claimed P&O Ferries had “flagrantly broken the law, deliberately”.
Today the PM’s official spokesman said: “We are looking very closely at the actions this company has taken to see whether they acted within the rules.
“Once we have concluded that, then we will decide what the ramifications are."
