What’s happening to P and O

Well I’ve just heard on Talk Radio they are getting rid of all British staff and replacing with foreign staff. Surely not! It’s not illegal apparently. But don’t quote me.

If Talk Radio is accurate maybe P&O is owned by an oligarch?

This is what ITV news are reporting:

ITV News understands that all P&O Ferries staff have been made redundant with immediate effect.

The company is set to use an agency to keep their ferries running and current staff will be able to apply to the agency for work.

The move comes ahead of an expected announcement today, Thursday 17 March.

P&O Ferries suspended all services earlier.

www.itv.com/news/meridian/2022-03-17/p-and-o-ferries-suspends-all-sailings-ahead-of-major-announcement

So just heard it’s all UK staff

I don't think it has been announced that staff have been sacked - although I have to admit it doesn't look good.

If staff are under contract doesn't that prevent them being sacked without good reason? If they are made redundant then I thought their job has to remain unfilled for at least 6 months.

Owned by a Dubai based company.

Hit by covid and Brexit.

They obviously need cheaper workers
I hadn’t read any previous news that they were in trouble so I was a bit shocked when I heard it on Radio 4 this lunch time

I heard they’re replacing all staff with cheaper foreign staff. P and O is apparently owned by someone in Dubai. What a surprise!

What on Earth has it got to do with Brexit. Some people need to get a life.
Covid I’ll agree on the firm we’re given furlough money, paid their shareholders millions. It’s the usual gluttony!

All 800 staff have been sacked and an agency has taken over, implying that they will employ at a cheaper rate.

What on Earth has it got to do with Brexit.

That would be "it has nothing to do with Brexit", as has just been confirmed on BBC's World at One. It has everything to do with profits being squeezed due to lack of travel during COVID pandemic and the spiralling costs of fuel. I'm happy to lay most things at the feet of Brexit but not false ones.

Grandmabatty

All 800 staff have been sacked and an agency has taken over, implying that they will employ at a cheaper rate.

Disgusting and is it legal? Dubai based owners but if the employees are British, surely our employment laws prevail

What it has to do with Brexit is reduced freight between UK and Europe.

Certainly there seem to be fewer lorries on the motorway to dover than there used to be but P&0 have made massive profits again this year so unclear why this has happened.
Is this just the ferries as they have a huge fleet of cruiseships too.

I am reading a hundred million pound loss.
The cruise ships are a separate operation.
Three factors: Downturn in freight because of Brexit; downturn in car passengers because of Covid; cost of diesel.

They announced a huge profit on r4 earlier but that may be the whole business. I am really sorry fir the staff who often live locally to dover. What a nasty shock. The unions have told them to remain on the ships.

That’s interesting silver lining.

If all the current workers have been sacked is there a chance all 800 could take P&O to court for unfair dismissal (I'm sure many people would contribute to a fund to help them do that).

In any event I hope all those who need to travel will boycott P&O.

I heard that too silverlinings; massive profits for their shareholders.

I agree Oldwoman70.

They took millions off the government in furlough payments.

Good point vegansrock

So haulage has dropped by 24% to Europe, and exporters claim that it has dropped by as much as 68% - of course it has made a difference to the traffic.

Brexit is a disaster.

Totally agree Whitewave Brexit can’t be dismissed just because some don’t want to admit is a total and utter disaster and ruined this country