Hundreds of people gathered in protest against P&O Ferries’ announcement of 800 redundancies.
Groups gathered outside the main entrance of the Port of Liverpool in Seaforth today after the ferry company terminated the contracts of 800 workers with immediate effect on Thursday. Staff were told the news in a pre-recorded video message on Zoom.
In a huge backlash to the news around 400 people turned up at the entrance to the Port of Liverpool and lined the road in protest holding flags and signs. One sign read ‘Poo Ferries’ and another said ‘Shame on you P&O! Stop the carve up!’.
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Lorry drivers going in and out of the port sounded their horns as they drove past the protest and cars going around the roundabout also joined in. People also chanted in support of the P&O Ferries workers who have lost their jobs.
Metro mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson joined the demonstration. Labour MP Mr Esterson said: “I think we’ve got amazing solidarity from trade unions across the north of England and local people.
“Like everyone, I’m outraged at the appalling abuse of ordinary people by DP World.” Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said the firings were a “disgrace”.
He said: “It’s an absolute disgrace that in this day and age a company, just overnight, can say that’s the end of your job, that’s the end of your loyal service, you’re sacked and you’ve got no right to appeal.”
Mr Burnham called for a boycott of P&O Ferries as he offered support at today’s demonstration.
He said: “It should be boycotted by everybody. People should boycott working for this company while this is ongoing. I would say to the public they should boycott travelling with this company. Stand firm with these workers. Their fight is everyone’s fight here.”
The protests were organised The Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ Union (RMT). Other unions including Unite, Unison, the Fire Brigades Union and the Communication Workers Union also attended. Many RMT flags with “Save Our Seafarers” were planted in the grass outside.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, said: “We are seeking urgent legal action and are again calling for the government to take action to stop what is fast turning into one of the most shameful acts in the history of British industrial relations.
“If this happens at P&O it can happen anywhere and we are calling for mass trade union and wider public mobilisation and protest against the company.”
Demonstrations were also held in Hull, Dover and Larne in Northern Ireland. One former worker in Dover, who had been advised by the union not to give his name to protect his redundancy package, called on locals to join their march.
The staff member of 22 years, who was in his 50s, said: “We need as many people as possible to help us make a stand. I want the whole town out.
“P&O was an institution in Dover. If you didn’t work there, you knew someone who did. Their reputation is ruined, not just here, but nationwide.”
P&O Ferries, which transports passengers and freight, operates four routes: Dover to Calais; Hull to Rotterdam; Liverpool to Dublin; and Cairnryan, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland. It has 2,200 employees remaining in the UK and began operating ferries in the 1960s.
P&O Ferries defended its decision and said in a statement: “We took this difficult decision as a last resort and only after full consideration of all other options but, ultimately, we concluded that the business wouldn’t survive without fundamentally changed crewing arrangements, which in turn would inevitably result in redundancies.
“We also took the view, in good faith, that reaching agreement on the way forward would be impossible and against this background, that the process itself would be highly disruptive, not just for the business but for UK trade and tourism.”
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