Sacked P&O Ferries staff to protest on Friday after 800 workers are replaced

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Several demonstrations are set to take place on Friday (March 18) in response to to P&O Ferries “appalling” decision to sack 800 seafarers.

The company blamed the move on losses of £100 million during the coronavirus pandemic. Both unions and politicians have condemned the move, while the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is seeking legal advice in order to challenge the sackings.

It described the move as one of the most “vicious example of despotic employer behaviour”. The ferry operator, bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019, announced the sackings on Thursday.

It insisted the cuts were “very difficult, but necessary” as the business wasn’t currently “viable”. The 800 employees were sacked immediately without notice, so they can be replaced by cheaper labour, HullLive reports.