Aimee Walker
P&O Ferries has sacked all of its staff ‘with immediate effect’ and ‘kicked customers off its ships’ amid claims of a £10million loss.
According to reports, ‘cheaper agency staff’ will replace its current employees and several of the company’s sailings have been cancelled for ‘a number of days’.
The ferry operator has released a statement addressing the issue, explaining that the company ‘is not sustainable’ in its current format.
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It reads: “In its current state, P&O Ferries is not a viable business. We have made a £100m loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent DP World. This is not sustainable.
“Without these changes, there is no future for P&O Ferries.”
Amid the news, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has urged the staff to ‘stage a sit in’ through a statement.
It reads: “We have instructed our members to remain on board and are demanding our members across P&O’s UK operations are protected and the Secretary of State intervenes to save seafarers from the dole queue.”
On the company’s website, another message states: “P&O Ferries have today announced a programme of work to become a more competitive and efficient operator, providing a better service to our customers across the tourism and freight industries.
“While we enact these changes, there will be significant disruption across P&O Ferries services over the next few days. However, we are working to minimise the impact on your journey.”
Customers of P&O Ferries have taken to Twitter and slammed the company’s move.
One wrote: “If you sack all your staff with the intention of either a) replacing them with cheaper, less skilled agency labour, or b) making them reapply for their existing jobs on worse salaries and terms, don’t underestimate the backlash for your business.”
Another mocked the explanation, writing: “Please stay with us while we s*** on all our committed staff, to replace them with agency workers who won’t give two s****s about any punters.
“And, why should they? They learn from the top.”
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