Don’t use P&O

[busby]

I've no idea what, if any, negotiations have been going on with the staff but it would be interesting to see just exactly what conditions of employment they have.

For example I'm sure I read somewhere that the workers wouldn't accept going off their 7 days on 7 days off rota. That's too cooshty if that's what they were working.

Many were working 7 twelve hour shifts which is 84 hours and having to live on board..Most in uk work a 37 hrs week so it doesn't sound that cushy,,,BUSBY.

 

[busby]

The cost of employing someone is far greater than their salary by the time you add Nat. Ins., pension contributions, sick, maternity/paternity and holiday pay, training, compliance with H&S regs, uniform, protective equipment, recruitment costs...............

And all that will be a cost for the replacement workers.BUSBY.

 

[mitzimad]

?
#do we know that the other opperators dont use agency or foreign workers

 

[Tombola]

Unions are a shadow of what they were then with a shadow of the influence they had.

thank the lord in most cases

 

[Gellyneck]

1980 recession resulting in record high unemployment level. Rising to 11.9% in 1983. (4.9% in 2021)

But is this stat measured on the same criteria? Don't think there were many zero \ limited hours contracts counted as full time employment back then?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[GMLS]

Hope Rob Bryden finds another job

 

[Spriddler]

But is this stat measured on the same criteria? Don't think there were many zero \ limited hours contracts counted as full time employment back then?

That's true and will no doubt have some influence on the figures. It's dodgy comparing over decades as social and employment attitudes evolved rather quickly. When I changed employers in '73 my Dad (retired after 40 years with the same firm) said he didn't think it an advisable thing to do as I'd only been with my current employer for 3 years.

 

[Wabs]

Comparing apples with pears.
Virgin Atlantic is owned by Virgin Group and 49% Delta Airlines.
Virgin Mobile is owned by Liberty Global.

The only link is they both lease the Virgin brand from Virgin Group. Where Virgin Group is wholly owned by Branson.

Same thing isn’t it,,

 

[VXman]

I thought they were owned Carnival Corporation & Plc a British-American cruise operator HQ'd in the UK and US.

You are correct. I read somewhere else they were with DP but appears they were sold. Should have changed their name. Apparently they are not liking being linked to P &O ferries now!

 

[rangi]

Read somewhere today that none of the P&O French/Belgium crews have been made redundant.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[dash300]

Hope Rob Bryden finds another job

He was advertising for P and O Cruises part of the British American group Carnival/P and O PLC an entirely different company which they are distancing themselves from.

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

I remember some years ago catching a snippet on TV, I don't know whther he was P&O CEO or a director, which was "... after the Zeebrugge thing ... ", I forget how many died in that disaster, but the complate lack of humanity in that phrase has stuck with me.

 

[Two of usI]

BF a bit pricey but service is excellent in my experience,,BUSBY.

busby...... have you been over recently...... I would have said the same as yourself, but, unfortunately, we have done 4 crossings since Oct and to be honest the service was not what we expected..... the main restaurant has been closed for the best part of 2 yrs, the self service was worse than ever, we always have a cabin.... last trip 4 berth cabin ( I feel too old now to climb into a bunk ) 1 towel, shower head not fixable, sink wouldn't empty and toilet wouldn't flush !!!!!!!!! never experienced that on B.F. before. Previously on entering the car deck, would be approached by a crew member ..... explaining where to exit, and a card to say which deck we were on.... all finished !!!!!!

 

[Richard Mason]

Appalling treatment - bizarrely, I spent two hours on the phone this morning with a very helpful lady rearranging bookings and not a word was mentioned

However bad it seems it must be legal with regard to the contract each employee signed.They should all have known this might happen. If it’s not all legal the P and O could be in the PoO.

 

[tony_g]

Outlaw 'fire and rehire' like Ireland and Spain. Nationalise P&O 'in the national interest' and freeze the parent company assets in the UK to repay pandemic payments they may have received.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[GMLS]

He was advertising for P and O Cruises part of the British American group Carnival/P and O PLC an entirely different company which they are distancing themselves from.

There's a lesson for someone cleverer than me in branding then

 

[tony_g]

P & O May have made a £100 mil loss last year but paid out £275 mil in profits so not to shabby a profit, DP World tried to buy all the major ports on the west coast of the USA a few years ago the US told them to take a hike so that didnt happen, i wont be using them in the future either. Bill

And they sponsored some European golf nonsense at a cost of £147m I believe.

 

[Odd-no-more]

Yes , but because you have an issue with your Virgin mobile bill, would not stop you flying to the States with Virgin Atlantic would it.

I'm having problems withy Virgin media contract and it will influence my choice of airline. If one arm of a company can treat me badly why should I trust another arm to treat me any better?

 

[2657]

busby...... have you been over recently...... I would have said the same as yourself, but, unfortunately, we have done 4 crossings since Oct and to be honest the service was not what we expected..... the main restaurant has been closed for the best part of 2 yrs, the self service was worse than ever, we always have a cabin.... last trip 4 berth cabin ( I feel too old now to climb into a bunk ) 1 towel, shower head not fixable, sink wouldn't empty and toilet wouldn't flush !!!!!!!!! never experienced that on B.F. before. Previously on entering the car deck, would be approached by a crew member ..... explaining where to exit, and a card to say which deck we were on.... all finished !!!!!!

Perhaps you have not noticed that we have been enduring a pandemic for the last 2 years!
Everything has been running pared back, service levels bound to suffer, I would have asked for a new cabin though.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

All owned by DP World though - so arm of the same parent company.

Nope. The cruise line is owned by Carnival Corporation (along with a whole bunch of other cruise lines - they were my largest fuel services client) with dual HQ in Miami and Southampton and nothing whatsoever to do with DP World

I thought they were owned Carnival Corporation & Plc a British-American cruise operator HQ'd in the UK and US.

Absolutely correct

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Emmit]

All owned by DP World though - so arm of the same parent company.

NO, No, No,
Fake information.

P&O Cruise are owned by Carnival, a USA Company with no connection to DP World.

 

[gus-lopez]

I keep seeing, wont use them, couldnt use them, shouldnt use them

I guarantee there is a good chance you will if they are cheaper than your other options. And if their salary bill is way less than other firms they may just make the whole industry thinks twice and all prices come down.
minimum wage eh

No , I won't use them merely because they sail only to calais, god forsaken shanty town , & do not use open deck boats allowing me access to retrieve my dog in the event of a disaster.

The govt didn’t do this.

They did by blocking the 'fire & rehire' bill in parliament last october.

Yes , but because you have an issue with your Virgin mobile bill, would not stop you flying to the States with Virgin Atlantic would it.

I refuse to buy, use anything that is tainted by Branson.

 

[Spriddler]

No , I won't use them merely because they sail only to calais, god forsaken shanty town , & do not use open deck boats allowing me access to retrieve my dog in the event of a disaster.

That has always been my only worry when using the Newhaven - Dieppe ferry as my dog is in my vehicle locked in the bowels of the ship.

 

[VXman]

NO, No, No,
Fake information.

P&O Cruise are owned by Carnival, a USA Company with no connection to DP World.

Already discussed and corrected that further back. In fact lost count if the number of people correcting me - feeling battered and useless now. Self esteem truly destroyed.

One 'NO' might have been enough. And don't you just hate that 'on trend' word 'fake' though? Word of the decade it seems since Trump used it in every other sentence.

Something along the lines of 'Sorry, that,s incorrect P& O are owned by..... would have sufficed but not neccesary to repeat it when others have already stated it.


Save the sensationlised reactions for Facebook or Twitter.

 

[Clipgate]

Most of the Captain's have proved to be spinless,by taking a payment of £120000 and taking a 30% cut in salaries.
To the best of my knowledge this information is correct.
It displays to me how fragile support for fellow workers really is.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Spriddler]

Already discussed and corrected that further back. In fact lost count if the number of people correcting me - feeling battered and useless now. Self esteem truly destroyed.

One 'NO' might have been enough. And don't you just hate that 'on trend' word 'fake' though? Word of the decade it seems since Trump used it in every other sentence.

Something along the lines of 'Sorry, that,s incorrect P& O are owned by..... would have sufficed but not neccesary to repeat it when others have already stated it.


Save the sensationlised reactions for Facebook or Twitter.

It happens in many threads where people don't bother to read the previous posts but think they are contributing new info or original thought.
I agree; it's most tedious.

 

[PhilandMena]

Todays Telegraph.

P&O Ferries owner faces criminal charges and huge fine after mass sacking

Ministers demand to know the legal basis for decision to axe 800 workers

www.telegraph.co.uk

P&O Ferries and its Dubai owners have been threatened with criminal charges and an unlimited fine by ministers after the company sacked hundreds of staff without a consultation.
Ministers on Friday demanded to know the legal basis for P&O's decision to axe 800 workers and force them to leave their boats immediately.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, threatened to kick the ferry company's owner DP World off the Government's flagship freeport programme and vowed to review all of its public sector contracts.
In a letter to P&O bosses, he said: “There can be no doubt that the Government is closely considering its relationship with your organisation."
In a separate letter, Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, said that P&O has “lost the trust of the public and has given business a bad name”.

He has ordered the Insolvency Service to investigate why P&O “appears to have failed to follow” UK employment law. Mr Kwarteng added: “We would like to understand why you think these rules do not apply to you."

There are “clear rules” around the processes that employers need to follow when making staff redundant such conducting a consultation and entering into talks with trade unions, he said.

They also include a requirement to notify the Business Department in advance of the redundancies.
Mr Kwarteng said: “Failure to meet the notification obligation is a criminal offence and can lead to an unlimited fine."
The sacking of 800 P&O seafarers on Thursday led to ugly scenes at the ports as staff barricaded themselves onboard vessels after the operator dispatched security staff trained in using handcuffs to remove them and seize control of the ferries.

Security staff on board the Pride of Kent on Thursday
Workers were made unemployed over Zoom calls, with agency workers hired in their place.
P&O is part of DP World, a business ultimately controlled by the government of the Middle Eastern city-state, which is ruled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, one of the world's richest men.
The ferry company has received £38.3m in government contracts since December 2018, according to data analysed by Labour. DP World also plays a key role in the Government's freeport initiative as part of its levelling-up agenda, and is developing a site on the Thames estuary.
With ministers in talks with P&O executives on Friday, protests were staged at ports such as Hull and Dover as well as in central London.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at a protest outside the offices of DP World, who own P&O Ferries CREDIT: REUTERS
Tempers flared in Dover as Conservative local MP Natalie Elphicke joined a large crowd outside the The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers headquarters at Maritime House on Snargate Street.

Ms Elphicke was heckled by Matt Wrack, the General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, while she was speaking to a councillor.

The Archbishop of Canterbury also waded into the row, describing the sackings as a “sin” and "cynically timed for a moment when the world's attention was on Ukraine."

Rival ferry operators are now ramping up sailings from UK ports. In Dover, Danish company DFDS said it would put an extra two services-a-day over the weekend. It is understood that Irish Ferries is exploring whether to send an extra vessel to the busy south coast port.

P&O did not offer any apology and defended its decision to make staff redundant without any warning.

A spokesman said: “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.”

P&O’s parent company DP World, which is owned by the government of Dubai, last week announced record financial results and proposed paying its state shareholder a $275m dividend.

A spokesman for P&O said “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.

“We have offered enhanced severance terms to those affected to properly and promptly compensate them for the lack of warning and consultation.”

The ferry company, whose name can be traced back to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company that was founded in 1837 also said: "The changes we've made bring us into line with standard industry practice."

P&O’s assertion was challenged by one senior industry source. They said: “I would say that is slightly disingenuous.
“[It has brought it into line] with the international model of crewing. But not the one that is standard for short straits.”

 

[Nanniemate]

People soon for get I remember deregulation and the bus wars in the 80s people jumped ship to the cheaper company straightaway. I remember one lady saying that she got on the first bus that did not last seen her soon waving the little local company by. Warned they would looses a 6am to midnight service no that would never happen .Well 2 years later nothing after 5pm or on a Sunday and as for the prices even with a subsidy you need a small mortgage. If people want to get some they will with or without ethics

 

[Clipgate]

I believe this event is a tip of a bigger iceberg.
Many more companies will follow suit ultimately.
The statement was clear,the aim is Singapore on Thames.
Low cost "flexible" labour.
The majority voted for just that, now the reality is emerging there is little point in complaining.

 

[David and Sally]

I believe this event is a tip of a bigger iceberg.
Many more companies will follow suit ultimately.
The statement was clear,the aim is Singapore on Thames.
Low cost "flexible" labour.
The majority voted for just that, now the reality is emerging there is little point in complaining.

Clipgate Can you please explain what you mean by Singapore on Thames. Can’t work it out.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}