P&O Ferries: mass sackings not illegal
P&O Ferries has maintained it has not broken any laws in the mass firing of nearly 800 workers.
P&O Ferries CEO, Peter Hebblethwaite said all ships involved were foreign flagged and so are not subject to UK law.
The workers were dismissed without notice, and immediately removed from the ships.
It caused widespread outrage, and has raised concerns about gaps in employment law.
In a letter to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng Hebblethwaite said the ‘very clear statutory obligation applied each company to notify the competent authority of the state where the vessel is registered.’
Kwarteng confirmed the government had received a letter from the firm.
Compensation of £36.5m is being offered by P&O Ferries to staff sacked.
“This has been an incredibly tough decision for the business: to make this choice or face taking the company into administration. This would have meant the loss of 3,000 jobs and the end of P&O ferries,” the company said.
P&O Ferries said it is paying more than the statutory minimum redundancy payments.
Hebblethwaite has been invited to attend a session of the Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Transport Committees to answer questions.
Ray Monty
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026