A year ago today, P&O and their Dubai-based parent company DP World made the disgraceful decision to sack over 800 British officers and ratings and replace them with agency staff, including over 50 employees sailing on the Pride of Hull from King George Dock in East Hull.
Since then, in Parliament and at the ports, we have stood up for these workers to say no to P&O and make it clear that is behaviour will not be tolerated.
The Government response to the sackings of nearly 800 P&O workers is a national disgrace. For all the strong words from ministers, 12 months later British workers are more vulnerable than ever. P&O Ferries was able to get away with its actions because weak UK employment meant any sanctions would be outweighed by the savings they could make on their wage bill.
Today, Labour revealed a new five point plan to put an end for once and for all by:
- Requiring that employers properly consult and reach agreements with their staff about any changes to contracts
- Preventing workers from being dismissed if they don’t agree to a worse contract
- Ensuring that trade unions can act to protect terms and conditions when fire and rehire tactics are being used
- Specifically protecting at-risk workers like those who worked for P&O Ferries, by making the seafarer’s welfare charter legally binding
- Bringing forward the investigation into P&O CEO, Peter Hebblethwaite, which has still not concluded a year after he admitted acting unlawfully, and making sure lessons are learnt
This will mean workers can be safe in the knowledge that their terms and conditions won’t be ripped up before their eyes. Our plan will also benefit the many employers who do right by their staff, by making sure standards aren’t lowered further but instead that businesses compete on quality and innovation.