After P&O Ferries sacked 800 of their staff via a Microsoft Teams calls last month, failing to consult with workers or trade unions in the process, the company now faces protests at its sites across the UK.
Despite concerns that the ferry operator has essentially “got away with,” the mass sackings, which were in breach of employment law, the RMT trade union is pushing forward with a campaign against P&O Ferries and calling for better workers rights across the maritime sector.
The government has announced a package of measures aimed at tightening up regulations for seafarers going forward, and a change to minimum wage law for maritime workers which they say will remove the incentive for P&O to replace their former staff with agency workers.
9. ‘Digusted’
Mr Procter and RMT regional organiser Gaz Jackson held a sit-down protest aimed at delaying ferry passengers who were waiting nearby on a coach from going through the terminal in order to get on the ferry. A group of men travelling to the Netherlands who spoke to NationalWorld but did not wish to be named said they were disgusted at P&O’s treatment of its staff and had changed their travel plans for the return route as a result, but had not been able to rearrange the journey there. | Photo: Ethan Shone/NationalWorld
10. Boycott
The RMT has launched a boycott of P&O, and there have been calls for the company to be nationalised, while Labour has called on the government to cancel the freeport contract worth £50m which was awarded to P&O’s owner, DP World. | Photo: Ethan Shone/NationalWorld
11. Police
A number of police officers were present and relayed a message from P&O staff that they wanted the protesters to move on in order to get passengers on to the ferry. Mr Jackson told officers that the protest would not continue indefinitely and passengers would be able to board, but stressed the importance of putting pressure on P&O on behalf of its sacked workers and people in all industries. | Photo: Ethan Shone/NationalWorld
12. Further protests
More protests will follow today (6 April) at 4pm in Liverpool and on Friday at Loch Ryan Port in Cairnryan, Belfast, from 12pm. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "Our Fair Ferries campaign will continue, and the ruthless behaviour of P&O will not be tolerated by our union in the maritime industry or anywhere else." | Photo: Ethan Shone/NationalWorld