Protesters gather at UK ports after P&O sacks 800 ferry workers

Trade unions protested at British ferry ports on Friday after Dubai-owned P&O Ferries abruptly sacked 800 workers via a video message, drawing widespread condemnation and raising the prospect of disruption to key tourist and goods routes.

P&O, which is owned by Dubai ports firm DP World, is recovering from a difficult two years when Covid-19 prevented tourists from travelling on its routes between Britain, France, Ireland and elsewhere in northern Europe.

P&O said on Thursday it had lost £100 million (US$131 million) in the past year and that without changes, its business was not sustainable. Staff were reportedly told its ships would instead be crewed by a third-party contractor to cut costs.

In Dover, Britain’s busiest ferry port, about 150 protesters gathered and truck drivers honked their horns in support but services operated by other carriers were not visibly disrupted. Demonstrations also took place in the English ports of Liverpool and Hull, and the Northern Irish port of Larne.

“Yesterday’s events should also mark a sea change in how we treat workers in this country,” said Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT Union.

The overarching Trade Union Congress called for workers’ rights to be strengthened, including via a new law to end the so-called fire and rehire practice which some firms have used to re-employ workers at lower wages to cut post-pandemic costs.

Transport minister Grant Shapps said he was shocked and dismayed by P&O’s actions: “Sacked via a pre-recorded Zoom video with just 30 minutes notice – no way to treat employees in the 21st century.”