For the sacked

On 17 March P&O Ferries, a once-proud British business, unlawfully sacked 800 workers without notice or consultation via a recorded video call. That day,

800 families had their lives ripped apart by a callous employer who couldn’t even look them in the eyes as years of hard work was literally rubbished. These 800 men and women were marched off their ships by hired security while their personal belongings were dumped in skips.

CEO Peter Hebblethwaite had so little regard for the sacked seafarers, that he told a committee of MPs that, not only had he chosen to break the employment laws of this country, but that he ‘would do it again’. This brazen act destroyed a household brand and exposed a corporate culture that put profits before passenger’s safety. Maritime inspectors found a record number of deficiencies on the Pride of Kent, with rescue boats not functioning, problems with fire safety systems and inadequate escape routes. Safety failings were found across all the company’s passenger routes and resulted in the detention of vessels including the European Causeway and Spirit of Britain.

P&O Ferries should be a warning to every single one of us. This isn’t just one bad apple. The weak employment laws in this country must be addressed. If not, thousands more jobs will be lost in a race to the bottom turbo-charged by the cuts in salaries and

conditions introduced by P&O Ferries.

We need a new deal for all workers. We demand stronger collective bargaining rights and an end to

exploitative employment practices like fire and rehire.

We must end exploitation in our waters!

Our Fair Ferries Framework agreement seeks to create jobs and invest in local industries. If enacted into

legislation it would:

1. Protect jobs and pay for seafarers

2. Ensure the highest safety standards

This framework would create minimum standards for ferries operating in UK waters, reflective of local conditions and would stop P&O Ferries, and any other

operator, from pursuing exploitative crewing models.

Our message is clear - never again.

Sign to support our Fair Ferries campaign and help

Nautilus. On behalf of the sacked, enact Fair Ferries legislation now!

Sincerely,

Nautilus International