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Trade unions' P&O Ferries protest video beamed onto White Cliffs of Dover

This message says loudly and clearly that the anger at P&O is not going away.

It is part of a video protesting against the mass sacking of nearly 800 P&O Ferries staff two weeks ago.

RMT national secretary Darren Procter with the projection on the cliffs. Picture: Nautilus, RMT, ITF
RMT national secretary Darren Procter with the projection on the cliffs. Picture: Nautilus, RMT, ITF

It was shown last night on the White Cliffs of Dover, right next to the Eastern Docks where the company's ferries usually sail from.

The 90-second video, was repeatedly projected between 8.30pm and 9.30pm last night (Thursday).

Apart from the written messages it showed the notorious moment some staff were told the news via a Zoom call at 11am on March 17.

It also showed film from some of the four protest marches in the town within the next 10 days.

This film was a collaboration between three trade unions, Nautilus International, representing seafarers and allied workers, the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) and ITF (International Transport Workers Federation).

A projection of the video call message telling staff the were fired. Picture: Nautilus, RMT, ITF
A projection of the video call message telling staff the were fired. Picture: Nautilus, RMT, ITF

Exactly 786 staff lost their jobs without warning, nearly 600 of them based in Dover and were replaced with agency workers paid below the National Minimum Wage.

They were moved from company property so abruptly, using security guards, that a number have not all have had their belongings returned to them.

P&O Ferries said it had to carry out the dismissals to ensure the company's survival and so safeguard the posts of another 2,200 workers. It said it was making up for the lack of notice and failure to consult trade unions through enhanced payoffs.

But its action provoked a furious response including from the Government, which this week announced new commitments to protect seafarers such as enforcing a minimum wage for them.

A legal allowance lets the replacement P&O workers get paid under international maritime rules instead of being granted the UK's National Minimum Wage.

The message on the cliffs next to the Eastern Docks. Picture: Nautilus, RMT, ITF
The message on the cliffs next to the Eastern Docks. Picture: Nautilus, RMT, ITF

Yesterday a deadline was reached for the sacked staff to respond to the company's offer of redundancy packages.

P&O Ferries say all but one worker has responded in time.

A company spokesman told Kent Online: " All but one began severance process by yesterday’s deadline."

Two P&O ships, the European Causeway in Northern Ireland the Dover-Calais vessel Pride of Kent, have been detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for failing safety inspections, the latter on Monday.

None of the company's ferries have run from Dover since March 17, with DFDS and Irish Ferries picking up the extra capacity.

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