Ferry passengers have been told to expect days of disruption after P&O bosses sacked 800 staff members over a Microsoft Teams call in a move angering government ministers.
The mass firings sparked chaotic scenes with many seafarers refusing to leave ships, leading to security guards “some wearing balaclavas and holding handcuffs” being deployed to remove them, according to reports.
Staff were told by P&O to disembark passengers and freight before being sent a video message telling them P&O “vessels will be primarily crewed by a third-party crew provider … Your final day of employment is today.”
WATCH: The moment @POferriesupdate informed their staff that their employment would be terminated with immediate effect.
— Nautilus International (@nautilusint) March 17, 2022
❌ No consultation with Unions ❌#PandOBetrayal #SackedandAttacked pic.twitter.com/wPBygOp4Qy
Captain Eugene Favier, who is in charge of the Pride of Hull, sealed himself and his crew inside the ferry after P&O announced mass redundancies, reports say.
The occupation finally came to an end after Captain Favier went ashore and negotiated with the firm’s bosses.
Union bosses were on Thursday night furious at ministers who they alleged knew about the sackings the night before but neglected to tell workers.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch told LBC transport minister Robert Courts said he was “going away to reflect” rather than reassuring him the government were going to prosecute P&O ferries which were bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019.
Mr Lynch added that P&O bosses had bussed in foreign workers primarily from Eastern Europe and the Phillippines to fill the roles “despite not being trained” to deal with the vessels.
More protests are expected at the ports of Dover, Hull and Liverpool on Friday, the union said.
It came as transport minister Robert Courts said passengers should expect disruption to ferry routes in coming days, with P&O likely to suspend all services for as long as 10 days.
He told MPs: “In taking this decision to make seafarers redundant, P&O have also today informed us they will be suspending services for approximately a week to 10 days while they locate new crew.”
He added the Government first found out about P&O’s decision to fire its staff on Wednesday night.
“I am extremely concerned and frankly angry at the way workers have been treated by P&O”, he said.
He told MPs that routes affected included Dover to Calais, Larne to Cairnryan, Dublin to Liverpool, and Hull to Rotterdam, but that “alternative provision” from other operators was being provided.
Mr Courts said: “Passengers will still be able to travel to and from the UK, including across the Channel, with freight coming in and out of the country.
“I must warn travellers they should expect some disruption over the coming days.”
For Labour, shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: “There are images circulating of what we are told are handcuff-trained security, some wearing balaclavas, marching British crew off their ships. This is not a corporate restructure, it’s not the way we go about business in this country.
“It is beneath contempt. The action of thugs.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the treatment of 800 seafarers sacked by P&O was “disgusting”.
“It just makes my blood boil. I just wish the Government had done what we said and strengthened employment rights so they couldn’t do this kind of thing”, he added.
Police were forced to intervene after P&O workers blocked a road leading to the Port of Dover.
Dozens of employees who lost their jobs on Thursday stood on the road holding banners and flags saying “Stop the P&O jobs carve up”.
It came after buses carrying agency workers hired to replace them appeared to arrive at the Kent port.
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.”
In Dover, one 46-year-old crew member of 30 years’ service, said he was worried about how he would support his family. He said: “There were grown men in tears worrying what to do about their mortgages. We’ve been treated abysmally. This was planned for ages; it’s not off the hoof.”
“P&O’s sudden decision to fire all 800 UK staff – via a pre-recorded video call – is a shocking disregard of the most basic employment law,” claimed Neil Todd, trade union law expert at Thompsons.
“Aside from the legal requirement for due process to be followed, it’s simple common decency to communicate openly, honestly and in good time with your employees, many of whom will have worked loyally for the company for years.
“To blame Covid-19 for these sackings, when P&O took furlough payments and is part of a hugely profitable group of companies, is beyond cynical.”
Downing Street said tactics used by P&O to sack the 800 crew were “completely unacceptable”.
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said officials were in “urgent” talks with the company about its plans.
“We do not agree with the practice of fire and rehire and would be dismayed if this is the outcome they were seeking”, they added.
DP World, one of the largest port operators in the world, is owned by Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund, and chaired by Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, who also heads Dubai’s customs authority.
The group also owns London Gateway port - the Government’s flagship “free port” which union bosses said would be targetted for cheaper labour as well.
P&O Ferries was given £33m in emergency support by the UK government to ensure freight kept sailing in May 2020, and it also furloughed 1,100 staff with taxpayer help.
In a statement, the ferry firm said: “In its current state, P&O Ferries is not a viable business.
“We have made a £100 million 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.”
