Leaked P&O Ferries memo reveals plan to sack 800 over zoom

The decision to fire 800 workers over Zoom left hundreds of ferry workers in the lurch. But a leaked memo has revealed some people in power knew it was coming.

P&O Ferries’ decision to fire 800 workers via Zoom left hundreds of families in the lurch in the UK.

But it’s now been revealed, via a leaked memo, that a number of government officials already knew about the plan and ensured the company it would “remain a key player in the UK market”.

The memo, obtained by the UK’s Sunday Times newspaper, was written by a senior government official and was “widely shared across government”, including being sent to the Prime Minister's office and to UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

“We understand that P&O Ferries have an intention to try and re-employ many staff on new terms and conditions or use agency staff to restart routes; they estimate disruption to services lasting 10 days,” the memo stated.

“Without these decisions, an estimated 2200 staff would likely lose their jobs. These changes will align them with other companies in the market who have undertaken a large reduction in staff.”

P&O ferries moored at the Port of Dover on the south-east coast of England after the company fired 800 people. Picture: Glyn Kirk/AFP

P&O Ferries, which is not connected to P&O Cruises in Australia, came under fire last week after one of the company’s senior employees organised a Zoom session with 800 workers, announcing in a prerecorded video they were all being terminated immediately.

The UK’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) blasted the government and P&O Ferries after the memo was leaked.

“There was no attempt to challenge P&O Ferries on these unconscionable tactics or even question whether these actions were legal,” TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said.

“Ministers, from the Prime Minister down, have serious questions to answer.

“This a national scandal. It has to be a catalyst for change on workers' rights.”

Transport Minister Grant Shapps last week said he was “shocked and dismayed by the insensitive and brutal treatment” of P&O’s employees who were “dismissed via a prerecorded Zoom video, with only 30 minutes of notice”.

“This is no way to treat employees in the 21st century” he said at a Conservative Party conference in Blackpool.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. Picture: Hollie Adams/Getty Images

The Department for Transport told the Sunday Times the details in the memo were limited and ministers were not expecting a mass firing.

“(The memo) was sent before ministers were advised of the full details and as soon as they were informed, they made clear their outrage at the way in which P&O staff had been dismissed,” the department said in a statement.

“It is clear from the memo that our immediate priority was to work with unions to ensure workers' rights continue to be protected and the transport secretary has urged the company to sit down with workers and reconsider this action.”

Protests against P&O cruises were held on Friday last week in the English port cities of Dover, Hull and Liverpool, a day after the sudden dismissal of the 800 employees.

On the south coast in Dover, angry demonstrators chanted “save our seafarers,” “stop the dismantling of jobs at P&O” and “resist all job cuts”.

A woman protesting in Liverpool on March 18. Picture: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

P&O Ferries, which is owned by Dubai’s DP World, prompted outcry from trade unions and politicians on Thursday when the loss-making group axed 800 jobs with immediate effect to save cash, citing its unviable finances.

Unions slammed the decision and revealed that P&O had encouraged staff to reapply for agency work under what they described as a “fire and rehire” policy.

P&O Ferries was badly hit over the last two years by the Covid pandemic, which ravaged the travel sector with multiple lockdowns and travel restrictions.

The group had already announced the dismissal of 1100 employees in May 2020, in an effort to make the company viable and sustainable during the Covid crisis.

At the time P&O received emergency funding from the government - as well as receiving furlough support to help pay wages.

P&O, which operates four routes serving Britain, France, Ireland and the Netherlands, has suspended passenger and freight ships since Thursday last week.