• Replies 34 replies
  • Subscribers 13 subscribers
  • Views 16320 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related

P&O Ferries - wholesale 'fire and rehire'

David

On the face of it, startling - appalling? - employer actions from P&O

eg

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/p-o-ferries-dover-calais-latest-news-suspended-b2037991.html

It's possibly legally-complicated because they're seafarers, but can't see how on earth they're being 'made redundant'

If these actions end up being deemed to have been lawful, then there's something badly wrong with the applicable law, IMHO.

Parents
  • I'm horrified by this unfolding scenario too. If the news is correct, there has been no consultation, worse still, there are buses of replacement workers waiting on the quaysides to board so it looks like not even a 'fire & rehire' of individuals in post is taking place.
    I agree with David that if it's deemed to be lawful there's something wrong with the applicable law.
    A dreadful mess is about ensue with seafarers being forcibly removed from the ships by security companies (also waiting at the quaysides).
    This is Britain - today. Depressing.
  • in reply to Andrea
    As the erstwhile Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath once described it, "the unacceptable face of capitalism."
Reply Children
  • in reply to David

    - and to quote reported comment from present day PM's office
    via BBC News):

    "Downing Street said the way staff were told was "completely unacceptable".

    The spokesman said the government had not been given any notice of the action, saying it did not agree with the so-called fire and rehire practice of sacking workers and re-employing them on different terms."

    - hope CIPD can add their weight to that!!

    PS....however...(quoting BBC News again)

    "Ann Francke, chief executive of The Chartered Management Institute, said P&O had "got it very wrong".

    "It's shocking and appalling. It's like management behaviour from another era," she said."

  • in reply to David

    Furthermore - just watched a playback on BBCTV News of the employees being sacked with immediate effect via MS Teams or whatever and the perpetrator clearly stating that this was for reason of redundancy.

    What utter garbage! - how can such a substantial 'responsible' employer come out with such twaddle? Who's 'advised' them about the UK employment law aspects here?

    Have a look at all the fine words about 'social responsibility' on P&O Ferries corporate website - vomit-inducing stuff.........

    Note too, in response to these cataclysmic events surrounding their business and their passengers, the only mention of it all on their own website is just a string of terse announcements to passengers intending to travel with them that it's not happening any longer - not a single word about the reasons why it's happened.

    In one sense these actions seem inept almost beyond belief. But it's possibly no coincidence that this company is now controlled from Dubai and it maybe smacks too of 'don't really care / we can do no wrong' arrogance on their part - something very alien to our culture in the UK but perhaps a sign of the times, especially now that we've parted company from those of similar culture in the EU?

    I mention this, because I'm presently experiencing personally but with another hat on a very similar mindset from HSBC Bank, whose latest foray into social responsibility is to impose substantial bank charges on all the charities and not for profit / community organisations that they formerly offered free banking to. Similarly, very alien indeed to UK culture.

    It's all very very sad.

  • in reply to David
    The Politicians and Trade Bodies will line up to condemn because its an open goal, Its virtue signalling. But will they actually do anything about it? Far less likely.

    I guess the owners have calculated the cost of doing this in this way (settlement agreements) against the cost of 45 days consultation, payments etc and the disruption to trade of doing it that way. And come up with a cold calculated decision. Ultimately any penalty will be financial either through settlement agreements, less likely court cases and loss of reputation. Its a cold hard world when you look at it like that.
  • in reply to Keith
    I think you're right, Keith. The belated suggestion of an 'enhanced settlement' would indicate they've realised they need to claw back some ground.