P&O sackings callous, illegal and inexcusable: there must be no repeat
HIOFFWN ddechrau’r golofn hon drwy ailadrodd fy nghondemniad o weithredoedd anfoesegol, anfoesol ac anghyfreithlon Fferi P&O wrth ddiswyddo 800 o forwyr sy’n gwasanaethu ar lwybrau o amgylch y DU. Rwy’n ddiamwys yn fy mhenderfyniad i weithio gyda’r Llywodraeth i ddiogelu bywoliaethau drwy roi mesurau ar waith ar unwaith a fydd yn atal ymddygiad P&O Ferries rhag cael ei ailadrodd gan unrhyw gwmni fferi sy’n gweithredu yn y DU. WISH to begin this column by reiterating my condemnation of P&O Ferries’ unethical, immoral and illegal actions in the sacking of 800 seafarers serving on routes around the UK. I am unequivocal in my determination to work with the Government to safeguard livelihoods by implementing immediate measures that will prevent P&O Ferries’ conduct being replicated by any ferry company operating in the UK.
As an island community with enormous pride in our maritime heritage and a deeply ingrained affinity with seafarers – wherever they serve - P&O’S actions have provoked justifiable outrage across Anglesey.
They have also caused understandable trepidation amongst the many seafarers, along with their families, who work to support the crucial route between Holyhead and Dublin today.
It is vital to be clear on this point.
P&O’S behaviour is abhorrent and, as the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Transport and even the Chief Executive of P&O Ferries himself have all confirmed, it is illegal.
The company did not use provisions under so called “fire and rehire” practices.
They sacked the seafarers, many of whom had given decades of service with the company, without notice and without consultation to replace them with agency crews who had already been recruited and who will be working for significantly lower wages and salaries.
The Prime Minister confirmed in Parliament that this illegal conduct will not be tolerated and that the Government will be taking legal action
against P&O Ferries.
Last week I spoke in Parliament in support of both the P&O seafarers who have lost their jobs and seafarers who serve on the Irish sea routes from Holyhead. I closed my speech by stating:
“I want to reassure P&O’S staff and others working in the sector, including my own constituents, that the UK Government are taking this matter very seriously. As the Secretary of State made clear at the start of this debate, there is absolutely no excuse for the way in which these workers lost their jobs. The strength of feeling in this Chamber today is palpable, and my colleagues and I will be pressing for swift answers to our questions and ensuring that those affected by P&O’S actions are given the support they need at this difficult time.”
Over the last week I have spoken with many of my constituents who work for Stena, including David Gwatkin, a union representative on board the Stena Adventurer and Mark Harrison on the same ferry.
They have all been seeking reassurance that such things could not happen to them and their colleagues and, more importantly, they have wanted to share their deep anger at people losing their jobs in such an unfair, immoral and devastating way.
I know that that concern is felt in other ports and industries right across the UK.
I have also spoken to Ian Hampton, the Executive Director of Stena Line, who was also
in shock. He outlined the importance of Stena’s company values and good industrial relations, highlighting how it is a partnership working together to provide the best affordable terms and conditions for their people on their vessels.
On Monday the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, gave the Chief Executive one final opportunity to reinstate the seafarer’s jobs. Writing to Peter Hebblethwaite he stated that: “On top of reviewing contracts you hold with Government and asking the Insolvency Service to investigate your actions, this week I will go further. I will be bringing a comprehensive package of measures to Parliament to ensure that seafarers are protected against these types of actions in the way that Parliament and this Government already intended. Through that package, I intend to block the outcome that P&O Ferries has pursued, including paying workers less than the minimum wage. With this in mind, you have one further opportunity to reverse this decision by immediately offering all 800 workers their jobs back on their previous terms, conditions and wages.”
On Monday afternoon, while speaking in Parliament, I asked the Minister of State for Transport Robert Courts MP: “will the Minister confirm to my constituents that he and the Secretary of State are doing everything they can to ensure that this despicable, callous behaviour can never occur again?”
Responding, the Minister said: “The Honourable Lady speaks with enormous power and passion for her constituents in Ynys Môn and I pay tribute to her for that.
“The distress that has been felt by seafarers of all companies is absolutely palpable over the course of the last week.
“Precisely the point that we are taking the time that we are is to provide the reassurance to others, no matter where they work or who they are employed by, seafarers livelihoods will be secured.”
The reopening of major economies around the world following the Covid-19 pandemic, along with Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, is driving global energy prices to record levels and I am acutely aware of the difficulties that high petrol and diesel prices are having for people and businesses across Anglesey and throughout the UK.
For communities such as ours, where access to public transport is limited and car dependency is high, high forecourt prices have an even more severe impact.
I have continued to raise this issue with the Chancellor and Prime Minister, and I welcome the confirmation in last week’s Spring Statement that the Government is immediately cutting fuel duty by 5p per litre.
I am pleased to see that many retailers across Anglesey have already implemented this cut but I will be working with the Government to ensure that future reductions in wholesale oil prices are reflected quickly at the pumps – a practice that still seems to be too widespread.
I also welcome the £500 million that was announced in extra funding for the Household Support Fund, with the Welsh Government receiving £25 million in Barnett consequentials.
This is in addition to the steps that the UK Government has already taken to help with the cost-of-living that include granting a £200 energy bill rebate and, through record levels of funding for the Welsh Government, a £150 Council Tax rebate for properties in Band A to Band D in Wales, along with a doubling of the
Winter Fuel Payment for lowincome households to £200.
Surging global energy prices are a painful reminder of the need to develop a domestic energy mix that will enable the UK to meet our energy needs, to achieve energy security and to decarbonise our economy. With our huge tidal ranges, our abundance of wind and the best site throughout the UK for a new nuclear development, Anglesey has an invaluable role to play in meeting our energy needs, in bringing down energy bills and in reducing emissions. This is why I am working relentlessly to bring investments in energy infrastructure to our island – investment that will also bring thousands of new jobs and training opportunities.
This weekend I am hosting defibrillator training and holding a surgery in Holyhead. If you have a suitable venue on Anglesey for future events such as my MP surgeries or a gala fundraising dinner - please do get in touch – I would love to hear from you.
My April e-newsletter will be going out in the next few days to thousands of your neighbours and local businesses across Ynys Môn. You can sign up to receive your copy by emailing your details to Virginia.crosbie. mp@parliament.uk or by giving me a call on 01407 644 645.
As always, please remember that if you have any concerns or problems, my dedicated team and I are here to help. If you need my help you can contact me in any of the following ways:
visit my office at 19 Stanley Street, Holyhead phone 01407 644 645 email virginia.crosbie.mp@ parliament.uk
visit my website www.virginiacrosbie.co.uk
Fel bob amser, cofiwch os oes gennych unrhyw bryderon neu problemau, mae fy tîm ymroddedig a finnau yma i helpu. Os bydd angen fy help arnoch chi, gallwch chi gysylltu â mi drwy’r dulliau canlynol:
ymweld â 19 Stryd Stanley, Caergybi ffonio 01407 644 645 e-bostio virginia.crosbie. mp@parliament.uk
edrych ar fy ngwefan www. virginiacrosbie.co.uk