P&O Ferries has made 800 of its workers redundant and cancelled its services for the next few days.
The company said the redundancies – more than a quarter of the company’s current workforce – were necessary to protect the future of the company. The company plans to replace the workers with agency workers.
“We have made a £100mln 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,” the company said in its statement.
"Without these changes, there is no future for P&O Ferries,” the company added.
Caught up in the P&O Ferries disruption? Here's everything you need to know https://t.co/ZmR4oSeg5I
— KentOnline (@Kent_Online) March 17, 2022
The redundancies were announced without any consultation with union representatives.
P&O Ferries’ services were suspended abruptly this morning at 7.30, causing confusion and delays.
All of P&O’s vessels were asked this morning to discharge their passengers and cargo and standby for further instructions. Employees on board the vessels were told to disembark but the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union, suspecting the company was “planning to sack hundreds of UK seafarers” advised its members to stay on board, as did the Nautilus union.
Footage obtained by BBC South East shows the moment P&O Ferries staff were informed they had lost their jobs. pic.twitter.com/dvRnptHfC9
— BBC South East (@bbcsoutheast) March 17, 2022
“Stay on board!” – Nautilus and RMT members instructed not to leave P&O ferries after being sacked – Union News https://t.co/5wp0RZmXQU
— Dr Alan Roe is taking Industrial Action (@alangeorgeroe) March 17, 2022