🔺 NEW: P&O Ferries intends to fire all UK-based crew today and replace them with cheaper overseas labour, The Times has learned thetimes.co.uk/article/p-amp-…
The announcement has raised fears of gridlock on roads around the port of Dover, the UK’s busiest link with mainland Europe.
With passengers being warned of severe disruption at major UK ports today
With passengers being warned of severe disruption at major UK ports today
⛴️ The ferry operator said it had suspended all sailings ahead of a “major company announcement”.
🗣️ “To facilitate this announcement all our vessels have been asked to discharge their passengers and cargo and stand by for further instructions"
🗣️ “To facilitate this announcement all our vessels have been asked to discharge their passengers and cargo and stand by for further instructions"
P&O Ferries added: 🗣️“If you’re in a customer-facing role, further information will follow separately on how we would like you to work with our customers. Thank you for your patience and support”
The Times understands that two coaches containing overseas crew are parked at the port of Hull. They're expected to take over the running of ships with immediate effect.
Sources said that members of the RMT union are poised to board ships, pull up the gangways and stage a sit-in
Sources said that members of the RMT union are poised to board ships, pull up the gangways and stage a sit-in
Responding to reports about the future of P&O, Mick Lynch, the RMT’s general secretary, said:
🗣️“We are deeply disturbed by growing speculation that the company is today planning to sack hundreds of UK seafarers and replace them with foreign labour"
🗣️“We are deeply disturbed by growing speculation that the company is today planning to sack hundreds of UK seafarers and replace them with foreign labour"
🗣️ “We have instructed our members to remain on board and are demanding our members across P&O’s UK operations are protected, and that the secretary of state intervenes to save UK seafarers from the dole queue,” Lynch added
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, told the Commons:
🗣️“I am concerned about the news just breaking about P&O Ferries. I understand it is temporarily pausing its operations, which is causing disruption on the Short Straits, the port of Dover as well as some other ports”
🗣️“I am concerned about the news just breaking about P&O Ferries. I understand it is temporarily pausing its operations, which is causing disruption on the Short Straits, the port of Dover as well as some other ports”
Shapps added: “My officials [will be having] urgent discussions with P&O about the situation, particularly of concern with their workers”
Read the full story 👇
thetimes.co.uk/article/p-amp-…
thetimes.co.uk/article/p-amp-…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
