P&O resumes service after sacking 800 workers

By Q Radio News

P&O has said its services between Liverpool and Dublin have resumed as of Saturday afternoon.

Its services were suspended on Thursday just hours before the firm announced 800 seafarers had been sacked and would be replaced with agency workers.

Their actions have been met with widespread "revulsion" so far, says Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden.

He told Times Radio the Government was trying to establish whether the move was legal.

“That is why the Transport Secretary (Grant Shapps) has asked the Insolvency Service to look at the notification requirements, for example, and see whether further action is appropriate,” Mr Dowden said.

“All of us feel, frankly, a revulsion at the kind of sharp practices from P&O. There has been a complete lack of engagement, a lack of prior notice or indeed any empathy whatsoever for the workers.”

Sacked P&O seafarers voiced their outrage at the news at a protest at Larne Port in sight of the ferry they were escorted off 24 hours previous.

The dismissed crew were joined by trade union representatives, politicians and members of the public.

The Government has already said it is reviewing all contracts it has with P&O Ferries and its owner DP World.

“I think they should be in no doubt that the Government is considering very closely its relationship with them,” Mr Dowden said.

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh had previously said the Larne-based company should not be allowed to resume sailings with replacement workers on Saturday.

Ms Haigh said: “P&O must not be allowed to sail today with replacement agency labour for loyal workers unjustly sacked this week.

“Strong words from the Government are meaningless – they must step in and act.”

Scene from a protest at Larne Port. P&O vessel the European Causeway is docked in the background after the ferry firm suspended sailings and handed 800 seafarers immediate severance notices