The mass sacking of staff by P&O Ferries could lead to a slew of successful employment tribunal claims, lawyers suggested today as trade unions prepare possible legal action over the ‘clearly illegal’ decision.
P&O fired 800 crew members on Thursday and announced plans to replace them with agency staff, citing ‘a 100m loss year-on-year’ and the need to ‘secure the future viability of our business’.
Transport minister Robert Courts MP described the manner of the sackings as ‘wholly unacceptable’. ‘I am extremely concerned and frankly angry at the way workers have been treated,’ he told the House of Commons.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) and Nautilus International are considering legal action, with trade union firm Thompsons Solicitors saying P&O has shown 'a shocking disregard of the most basic employment law'.
Neil Todd, a trade union law specialist at Thompsons, which is acting for the RMT, said: ‘P&O’s sudden decision to fire all 800 UK staff – via a pre-recorded video call and without a single shred of consultation – is a shocking disregard of the most basic employment law. The law states that if you’re dismissing more than 20 employees, you must consult with them. The larger the number of employees being dismissed, the longer the consultation should be – up to 45 days.’
He added: ‘In our view, what they did was unlawful and we are considering all options including employment tribunal claims and High Court proceedings.’
Nautilus’ general...
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