Shocking moment P&O Ferries fires all 800 crew by VIDEO
THIS is the brutal moment bosses sacked 800 P&O Ferries staff - via zoom.
In a virtual speech a company chief told workers their contracts were terminated immediately following losses of more than £100 million.
The pre-recorded video, which started at 11.10am this morning, lasted less than four minutes and saw all staff told they were losing their jobs.
A P&O boss told staff: "The company has made the decision that its vessels going forward will be primarily crewed by a third party crew provider
"Therefore I am sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy.
"Your final day of employment is today."
RMT Union bosses fear UK seafarers employed by the company could be replaced by foreign labour and agency staff.
The move, blasted by workers as "treacherous", sparked travel chaos as union leaders urge employees to stage a mutiny and refuse to disembark from vessels.
Cheap agency workers are now stuck waiting at docksides ready to board the ferries.
One worker, a dad-of-two, of Dover, Kent, said: ";I had to switch it off.
They will handle your complaint and see whether they can help you resolve the issue with the ferry provider.
How am I protected with redundancy?
The statutory rate is based on your age, weekly pay and number of years in the job.
You will get:
- Half a week’s pay for each full year you worked aged under 22
- One week’s pay for each full year you worked aged 22 or older, but under 41
- One and half week’s pay for each full year you worked while aged 41 or older.
Length of service is capped at 20 years.
In England, Scotland, and Wales the maximum amount of statutory redundancy pay is currently £16,320. However, in Northern Ireland it is £16,980.
You cannot be paid less than the statutory amount.
The limits may change when a new tax year begins each April.
he government has a how much you are owed.
You may get more than this statutory amount if your employer has a redundancy scheme.
Redundancy pay up to £30,000 is tax-free.
P&O is owned by DP World, a Dubai-based logistics giant, that bought the ferry company for £322m in 2019.
The company said in a statement: "P&O Ferries is not a viable business. We have made a £100m loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent DP World.
"This is not sustainable.
"Our survival is dependent on making swift/significant changes now. 800 seafarers given immediate severance notices."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
P&;O is a separate company to P&O Cruises which is operated by Carnival UK.
It split from the ferries part of the business in 2000 and is unaffected by today's announcement.