P&O Ferries workers were told they were being made redundant in a video message played to staff informing them they were being replaced by a “third party crew provider”.
Footage of the moment staff were told they were being let go has been passed to the BBC, with an executive from the company telling workers about the decision to terminate their jobs with immediate effect.
The firm has fired 800 seafarers claiming it is “not a viable business” in its current state.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “deeply concerned” about the announcement, and that the Scottish Government is seeking urgent talks with the company.
READ MORE: P&O cancels Scots services as it fires 800 staff and are 'replaced by foreign labour'
P&O, bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019, said it has suspended sailings “for the next few days”.
Former P&O staff and RMT members block the road leading to the Port of Dover as P&O Ferries suspended sailings
Workers currently on board ships were instructed by unions not to leave.
In the video message, staff were told: “The company has made the decision that its vessels, going forward, will be primarily crewed by a third party crew provider.
“Therefore I am sorry to inform you that your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy.
“Your final day of employment is today.
The company operates a route between Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway and Larne in County Antrim, with seven scheduled services .
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
In a message posted online, Nicola Sturgeon said: “I’m deeply concerned at P&O announcement - due to the importance to Scotland of the Cairnryan/Larne route obviously, but also the impact on 100s of workers.
“Fire & rehire is an appalling practice & offends the basic principle of fair work. [The Scottish Government] will be seeking urgent talks.”
Many P&O seafarers were furloughed during the coronavirus crisis, with the Government paying up to 80% of their wages.
READ MORE: P&O cancels Scots services as it fires 800 staff and are 'replaced by foreign labour'
Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: “This scandalous action shows sheer contempt for the workforce.
“Unscrupulous employers cannot be given free rein to sack workers and replace them with agency staff.”
I’m deeply concerned at P&O announcement - due to the importance to Scotland of the Cairnryan/Larne route obviously, but also the impact on 100s of workers. Fire & rehire is an appalling practice & offends the basic principle of fair work. @scotgov will be seeking urgent talks
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) March 17, 2022
P&O Ferries said in a statement: “In its current state, P&O Ferries is not a viable business.
“We have made a £100 million 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. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel