What's going on with P&O Ferries?

jimbo6977

P&O are dogged by enormously expensive working practices and employment contracts dating back to previous incarnations of the company from decades ago. There have been efforts at reform in the last 5 years or so but they've got to a point where they now feel they need to call time on the whole lot and start again. There will be trouble ahead! 

onashoestring

It has now been confirmed 800 staff made redundant with immediate effect - apparently told via zoom . Staff staging sit-ins and refusing to leave ships .https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60779001

KittenChops

Westin said:

Something major to make the company immediately suspend sailings and "discharge their passengers and cargo" from ships in ports.
https://news.sky.com/story/p-o-ferries-suspends-all-sailings-ahead-of-major-announcement-12568327 

Is their any Russian funding and/or share holding in DP World (the Dubai based owners)?

I've seen on another forum that 40% of DP World is Russian owned, but unable to verify...

GingerTim

Absolute scumbags.

lisyloo

onashoestring said:

It has now been confirmed 800 staff made redundant with immediate effect - apparently told via zoom . Staff staging sit-ins and refusing to leave ships .https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60779001

Aren’t there laws about a consultation process when numbers are at a certain level?
Im sure they are getting advice from their union.

beckstar1975

Apparently they're outside UK jurisdiction so normal redundancy/consultation rules don't apply. Sad I've got two bookings with them already, will definitely not choose to use them again after this

Bicycleman22

Outrageous...I guess P&O used furlough and now with the news from Ukraine they have sneaked this through....All legal apparently. Unfortunately people have short memories and only look at price when booking tickets, cue lots of cut price offers and pay offs for the ******* at the top. Yes people will pretend to support the workers but how many will pay more for their tickets and go elsewhere ?

beckstar1975

Bicycleman22 said:

Outrageous...I guess P&O used furlough and now with the news from Ukraine they have sneaked this through....All legal apparently. Unfortunately people have short memories and only look at price when booking tickets, cue lots of cut price offers and pay offs for the ******* at the top. Yes people will pretend to support the workers but how many will pay more for their tickets and go elsewhere ?

I will, same way I buy Fairtrade, free range, direct from farms etc - I cut back in other areas (such as going out to eat). I realise I am lucky enough to have this choice (and also feel for the poor people currently stranded in addition to those who have lost their jobs)

daveyjp

lisyloo said:

onashoestring said:

It has now been confirmed 800 staff made redundant with immediate effect - apparently told via zoom . Staff staging sit-ins and refusing to leave ships .https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60779001

Aren’t there laws about a consultation process when numbers are at a certain level?
Im sure they are getting advice from their union.

There are laws about all that, but when they only sanction against an employer is financial what's a few thousand pounds per employee who goes through the tribunal process when you are losing £100m a year.

Especially when the employee is the Dubai Sovereign wealth fund valued at $1.6 trillion!

Doshwaster

lisyloo said:

onashoestring said:

It has now been confirmed 800 staff made redundant with immediate effect - apparently told via zoom . Staff staging sit-ins and refusing to leave ships .https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60779001

Aren’t there laws about a consultation process when numbers are at a certain level?
Im sure they are getting advice from their union.

Dubai owned company operating a ship registered in the Bahamas. There limits to how UK laws apply to those aboard.  The whole jurisdiction of maritime law is very complicated.