In a video message sent to employees on Thursday, UK shipping operator P&O Ferries informed them that 800 seamen will be terminated immediately, according to media sources like the BBC.
BBC News reported that a P&O employee said in a video that “coming future, the majority of the personnel on our boats would be provided by a third-party crew supplier.”
Consequently, I am sad to tell you that your job has been terminated with immediate effect due to redundancy,” he said. “Today is your last day of work,” says the boss.
On Thursday, the firm announced that it will be cutting off 800 employees worldwide. P&O said it will issue additional compensation packages to the impacted employees “as a result of the lack of early warning.”
James Sloth, who has been employed by P&O the firm in Dover for almost four years, told the BBC that it was a difficult situation “total surprise” and that the only communication received was a “three-minute prerecorded message informing them that they were no longer employed.” There is nothing else.”
According to Insider, P&O said: “All impacted crew members who were on the job today were informed in person and face-to-face on board their boats. P&O Ferries took every attempt to personally tell crew members who were rostered off: virtual meetings were conducted, they were each individually telephoned, and email and SMS notifications were given before dismissal letters and severance conditions were delivered through courier and email, among other methods.”
“We regret that the news of their dismissal must have come as a surprise to any crew members who were not individually contacted as a result of this series of measures,” the business stated. “We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.”
It has been ordered that members stay aboard ships by the Rail, Maritime, and Transport Union (RMT).
Diana Johnson, a Labour member of parliament, said in the House of Commons that the RMT had informed her that P&O parent firm DP Global had recruited security agents in balaclavas who were trying to remove crew members off ships.
Security guards at Dover are attempting to board ships with handcuffs in order to remove crew members so that they may be replaced with lower-wage workers, according to sources. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch stated in a statement that the union is investigating the accusations.
The claims were rejected by P&O.
“The crews escorting the sailors off our boats have been completely professional in their handling of this tough assignment with the utmost care,” the company said in an interview with Insider.
“Contrary to rumors, none of our employees have been ordered to wear balaclavas, nor have they been asked to use handcuffs or force,” the business said. “Instead, they have maintained a professional, compassionate, and calm demeanor in what has been a difficult circumstance for everyone, while attempting to protect the safety of everyone on board.”
Mr. Turner, who represents East Hull in the House of Commons, posted a picture on Twitter that he said showed “new foreign crew ready to board the Pride of Hull,” a vessel operated by the Port of Hull Authority.
Keith Davis, a contractor working on the Pride of Hull’s culinary equipment, told the BBC that he and eight other contractors were trapped aboard the ship because the skipper had lowered the gangway.
The station quoted him as saying, “We’re being detained against our will, I’m not trying to sound dramatic, but we’re not being allowed to leave the ship.”
