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18/03/2022
P&O Ferries Sack 800 Staff Via Video Message
P&O Ferries has sacked some 800 staff with immediate effect via video message.
According to reports, staff were called to a meeting, during which they told via video message that it was their "final day of employment".
P&O claimed that it had to take the decision or "it would not be viable business". However, it is understood that the sacked workers are to be immediately replaced with agency staff.
It has been claimed that as the news was given to staff, private security with handcuffs were present, threatening to remove staff with force if they did not leave immediately. It has also been claimed that as the sacked workers left, new agency workers were being bussed in to replace them.
The Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon MLA, has expressed her concern at the actions by P&O Ferries and the impact locally.
The Minister said: "I was shocked to hear the news from P&O Ferries this morning and my thoughts are with those staff working for P&O who have lost their jobs and also with those whose travel has been disrupted.
"This is a developing situation and officials are working on a cross-departmental basis to assess any local impacts, especially for supply chains, and are keeping in close contact with their counterparts in the Department of Transport in London.
"With the Economy Minister I am calling on the Secretary of State for Transport to take every possible step to save jobs and to maintain connectivity for passengers and freight on Irish Sea routes."
According to reports, staff were called to a meeting, during which they told via video message that it was their "final day of employment".
P&O claimed that it had to take the decision or "it would not be viable business". However, it is understood that the sacked workers are to be immediately replaced with agency staff.
It has been claimed that as the news was given to staff, private security with handcuffs were present, threatening to remove staff with force if they did not leave immediately. It has also been claimed that as the sacked workers left, new agency workers were being bussed in to replace them.
The Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon MLA, has expressed her concern at the actions by P&O Ferries and the impact locally.
The Minister said: "I was shocked to hear the news from P&O Ferries this morning and my thoughts are with those staff working for P&O who have lost their jobs and also with those whose travel has been disrupted.
"This is a developing situation and officials are working on a cross-departmental basis to assess any local impacts, especially for supply chains, and are keeping in close contact with their counterparts in the Department of Transport in London.
"With the Economy Minister I am calling on the Secretary of State for Transport to take every possible step to save jobs and to maintain connectivity for passengers and freight on Irish Sea routes."
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
