Liverpool Airport has made a kind gesture to staff who were sacked by P&O Ferries via video message.
Hundreds of people attended a protest at the Port of Liverpool this afternoon against P&O's decision to terminate the contracts of all of their workers on Thursday. Staff were told the news in a pre-recorded message on Zoom.
The company will use an agency to keep their ferries running and current staff will be able to apply to the agency for work. CEO of P&O Ferries, Peter Hebblethwaite, said the firm was forced to take the 'difficult but necessary' decision after losing £100million year on year.
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A protest at the main entrance to the Port of Liverpool was one of three demonstrations held across the UK on Friday, planned by The Rail, Maritime and Transport workers' Union (RMT). Following the news of the redundancies, Liverpool Airport said on Friday it will offer staff from P&O Ferries an automatic interview to any of its current vacancies.
Jobs available at the airport include roles in hospitality, duty free and for the aviation services company Swissport. Liverpool Airport tweeted on Friday: "We are saddened to hear about the job losses at P&O Ferries, and the uncertainty that it has created for those affected.
"We've got a number of roles available at the airport, and any ex-P&O Ferries staff will be given an automatic interview - just make sure to mention it when you apply for any role."
People praised the airport for showing "solidarity" after the announcement. One woman said: "Amazing! Scousers are the best! P&O staff have been treated terribly so this is thoughtful of #Liverpoolairport." Another added: "Boss this, well done."
Since the news of redundancies was reported, EasyJet has also added fast-track applications for UK Cabin Crew roles for P&O Ferries employees.
EasyJet tweeted: "Following the sad news about redundancies at P&O Ferries, we'll fast-track applications for UK Cabin Crew roles from P&O Ferries employees and reach out to impacted employees: careers.easyjet.com/cabin-crew. Roles are also available at our Luton HQ. Thinking of everyone impacted today."
P&O Ferries, which transports passengers and freight, operates four routes: Dover to Calais; Hull to Rotterdam; Liverpool to Dublin; and Cairnryan, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland. It has 2,200 employees remaining in the UK and began operating ferries in the 1960s.
P&O Ferries said in a statement on Thursday: "In its current state, P&O Ferries is not a viable business. We have made a £100 million loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent, DP World. This is not sustainable.
"Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now. Without these changes, there is no future for P&O Ferries."
