Brutal jobs massacre puts every worker at risk

IF anyone needed hard proof of the brutal nature of industrial relations in Britain in 2022, they will have had it in spades after the jobs massacre that has been meted out to our members on P&O Ferries.

Millions of working people will have been watching in horror as the ships were tied up, their hard-working crew were sacked by Zoom call and removed by balaclava-clad, handcuffwielding security in what can only be described as a paramilitary operation.

And, as this paper’s story reveals today, it means there is a real danger that P&O have fired the starting gun on a race to the bottom on British maritime pay – as shown by the warning from DFDS.

That would wipe out all decent jobs in this once proud maritime nation.

This industrial barbarism and gangster capitalism must be resisted. Every sinew – industrially, politically, legally and publicly – of our organisation is being strained in a relentless campaign to secure justice for the sacked P&O workers.

If this kind of industrial vandalism can be slammed down on them, it can be slammed down on anyone.

And we need to send the clearest message to the employers and the Government that we are here and ready for the fight.

The support of Sunday Mirror readers in that fight has been fantastic and I thank you all.