A shocking pre-recorded video from P&O Ferries has been circulated showing the devastating moment 800 staff were told they were being made redundant with immediate effect.
The recording was displayed to staff on board their docked ferries informing their contracts were being terminated and today was their last day at work.
The release of the controversial video comes as union bosses urge their members not to leave docked P&O ships until a settlement is negotiated, describing the redundancies as a betrayal.
In the video sent by a P&O crew member to Hull Live, the company claims the job losses are needed to keep the company in business after losses of £100 million a year for the past two years.
A senior company executive tells staff that their Dubai-based parent company, DP World, could no longer sustainably cover their losses and instead a new external agency workforce will take over their jobs.
The crew have been offered a severance package that P&O claims goes “well beyond the statutory requirements and the redundancy terms” within the collective bargaining agreement.
A company chief said on the short video statement: “The company has been struggling financially for the past few years and has lost about £100m each year for the last two years.
“Whilst these losses have been covered by P&O’s parent company DP World it’s clearly not sustainable for the future. The business cannot continue to operate like this so it has had to consider a range of different options to drastically reduce costs.
“These circumstances have resulted in a very difficult but necessary decision to restructure P&O’s workforce and operations in order to protect the future of the business.
“This was only taken after seriously considering all of the available options.
“The company has made the decision that its vessel going forward will be primarily crewed by a third party crew provider.
“Therefore I am sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy. Your final day of employment is today.
“P&O Ferries is offering you an enhanced severance package which is well beyond the statutory requirements and the redundancy terms within your collective bargaining agreement.
“Details of this package are on a document pack which you will receive by email today so I urge you to keep an eye on your emails for receipt of the document.
“The enhanced severance payment will be made to you in April this year subject to you signing a settlement agreement by March 31 and complying in full with its terms and conditions.
“I do accept that there are no words that can make the situation any better today. I realise that this will come as a shock to you and P&O Ferries will supply you with all the on-going support possible.
“Specifically P&O will provide you with support to get a new job at sea or ashore whether in another part of DP World, with a crewing company or in another area of work. Confidential support including counselling through our employee assistance programme is available to you until June.
“The document pack you will receive today will contain additional information including questions and answers so I would advise you to read over those carefully.
“There are details on the written pack about where you can go for more information if you have any other questions and pleads appreciate that I can’t take any answers on this call for obvious reasons. We will also be calling each and everyone of you individually and who are not on board the vessels today in case you have further questions of further things you need to find out from us.
“In the meantime can I thank you for your time today and in particular thank your for your service to P&O Ferries. Thank you.”
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