A COUPLE were left “high and dry” today after P&O Ferries cancelled their trip and sensationally axed hundreds of staff. The company lay off ALL 800 crew via Zoom and left Brits stranded by telling them services were cancelled for the “next few days”. The “treacherous” move sparked travel chaos as union leaders urged employees […]
A COUPLE were left “high and dry” today after P&O Ferries cancelled their trip and sensationally axed hundreds of staff.
The company lay off ALL 800 crew via Zoom and left Brits stranded by telling them services were cancelled for the “next few days”.
The “treacherous” move sparked travel chaos as union leaders urged employees to stage a mutiny and refuse to disembark from vessels.
Gavin and Jackie Shaw had a P&O ferry booked from Larne in Northern Ireland at 4pm today but were left stranded after the firm’s mass sackings.
Mr Shaw told Sky News this afternoon he and his wife had “heard nothing from P&O” and were forced to re-book another ferry with rival firm Stena Line for £174.
He said: “We are left a wee bit high and dry.
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“P&O were trying to say that all their tickets would be honoured by Stena Line. I am afraid this turned out not to be true.
“Stena Line don’t know anything of this so-called arrangement. We have had to rebook with Stena Line at a cost of £174, which is unfortunate.”
Mr Shaw said he has tried to “frequently” contact P&O but has not been able to speak to any member of staff.
He said: “It was just ringing out, hopeless. We were just abandoned. All the passengers were just abandoned.
“We are not optimistic that we will see our money, to be perfectly honest with you.”
P&O employees were ambushed this morning via Zoom and reportedly given just “five minutes to get their stuff and get off the ship”.
There are now up to 16 “handcuff trained” agents at Dover have been scrambled in case of “backlash” among defiant staff still on board.
Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson claimed the balaclava-wearing private security staff are “taking British crew off these ships”.
And Boris Johnson’s spokesman blasted the news as “completely unacceptable”.
Passengers with trips booked today have been told their travel will be provided by alternative ferry companies, such as DFDS and Irish Ferries.
Maritime minister Robert Court told MPS this afternoon P&O would be “suspending services for approximately a week to 10 days while they locate new crew”.
People who had plans to board a P&O ferry this morning have also expressed their frustration on Twitter.
One person wrote: “But who is going to let us know and when please?
“We were meant to be on the 6.30 ferry, sat here since 5.30 and not one person has explained anything.”
Another put: “The alternative operator knows nothing either! Some clarity would be great.”
Someone else added: “Sitting in Calais very angry!”
P&O confirmed all 800 staff will be made redundant with immediate effect to plug a £100million black hole.
The company said crew will be given enhanced packages to compensate for “the lack of advance notice” and revealed the business is “not viable” in its current state.
But they have been slammed for gathering staff to tell them their jobs had gone on a Zoom call.
Captain Eugene Favier was branded a hero for blocking police or new employees from boarding his vessel in Hull.
Hull MP Karl Turner said the Netherlands native was now operating under maritime law to prevent anyone coming aboard – and confirmed there was enough food on board to last “as long as it takes”.
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P&O warned in May 2020 around 1,100 workers could lose their jobs as part of a plan to make the business “viable and sustainable” during the pandemic.
The company is owned by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World.
