P&O ferries has been slammed after it made 800 staff redundant over Zoom, with customers now telling the company “we’ll never travel with you again”.
The transport company sacked the mass of employees with no notice over video call, after the firm racked up losses of £100million a year.
Some P&O staff occupied one of the ferries in protest - and are now being hauled off by security staff wearing balaclavas.
Customers critical of P&O’s “disgusting” actions are now piling onto the company on Facebook, under a recent post explaining what the “changes” would mean in the short term for customers.
“Today we've announced changes to provide a better service to our customers. While we make these changes, many of our services will not be running over the next few days,” the post read.
“We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience during this time. We look forward to welcoming you back to P&O Ferries shortly.”
”If you are due to travel with us over the next few days we will be making contact with you and you can find the latest travel information on our website.”
The post has attracted hundreds of comments, largely from customers both bewildered and angry at P&O’s actions and subsequent messaging.
“Is this for real??” one person asked.
“Bad taste here p+o, absolutely bad taste in even suggesting today's news is to provide a better service. How about staying off social media whilst these 800+ staff members you've just made redundant take in the news that you're replacing them with cheaper agency staff on zero hour contracts.......”
Another said they would be taking their money elsewhere when their next trip rolled around.
“I have a Motorhome and take it to Europe but it will never now be with you lot,” they commented.
“If this is how you treat loyal staff and customers you deserve to go bust.”
One commentator had posted a link to P&O Ferries’ Trustpilot page, where its rating had sunk to 1.5 stars - likely pushed down by a recent swathe of 1 star reviews.
“I'd write how I really feel about P & O here, but guideline standards prevent me,” one person had posted today alongside their rating.
In a pre-recorded video announcing mass redundancies today, staff were told: "The company has made the decision that its vessels going forward will be primarily crewed by a third party crew provider.
"Therefore I am sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy.”
Earlier today the ferry firm suspended its services, with customers told to use rivals instead.
The company employs 3,000 workers and has 20 ships.
The spokesperson said P&O is "not a viable business" as it is, adding that its survival was "dependent on making swift and significant changes now. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries" it said.
"These circumstances have resulted in a very difficult but necessary decision, which was only taken after seriously considering all the available options.
"As part of the process we are starting today, we are providing 800 seafarers with immediate severance notices and will be compensating them for this lack of advance notice with enhanced compensation packages. "
P&O runs 30,000 voyages a year across the English Channel, North Sea and Irish Sea.
The firm has suspended sailings "for the next few days".
Earlier today Labour MP Diana Johnson told the Commons the mass lay-offs were "reminiscent of the worst Thatcherite policies".
She told MPs: "I understand from the RMT union that these agency staff, mainly from overseas, are in buses on the quayside with a security firm... wearing balaclavas and taking British crew off these ships."
The general secretary of the RMT, Mick Lynch, said: "We have instructed our members to remain onboard and are demanding our members across P&O's UK operations are protected, and that the Secretary of State intervenes to save UK seafarers from the dole queue."
The Department for Transport (DfT) is having "urgent discussions" with P&O, according to the official spokesperson for the prime minister.
The spokesperson added: "It does obviously cause concern for P&O workers, the company is not ceasing to operate and DfT is speaking with them to understand what the potential impact is so there will be further updates later on.”
P&O staff on one ferry are reportedly staging a "sit-in" protest on the firm's Pride of Rotterdam ship, in Hull.
The mother of a P&O worker told a Mirror sister title that P&O staff were told they had "five minutes to get their stuff and get off the ships".
Earlier today the company told its staff by email to expect a major announcement.
The email said: "We will be making a major company announcement today which, with the support of our shareholder DP World, will secure the long-term viability of P&O Ferries.
"To facilitate this announcement all our vessels have been asked to discharge their passengers and cargo and standby for further instructions.
"This means we're expecting all our ports to experience serious disruption today so please bear with us and we will give further information in an all-colleague announcement later today.
"If you're in a customer facing role further information will follow separately on how we would like you to work with our customers. Thank you for your patience and support."
This morning a P&O spokesperson denied claims the firm was going bust.
The P&O spokesperson added: "We have asked all ships to come alongside, in preparation for a company announcement.
"Until then, services from P&O will not be running and we are advising travellers of alternative arrangements."
In January The Mirror reported that the billionaire owners of P&O Ferrie s stood accused of splashing out millions sponsoring a golf contest while ignoring calls to fund the firm's pension pot.
P&O Ferries, which is is owned by logistics firm DP World, cut around 1,000 staff during the pandemic, while seeking Covid bailouts.
