Following the recent UK general election, Nautilus International, the UK’s largest maritime union, has called on the incoming Labour Government to prioritise preventing another P&O Ferries furore.
It said that as a matter of urgency, the new Government must ensure it delivers a legally binding Seafarers’ Charter.
In March, 2022 P&O Ferries sacked almost it’s entire UK resident workforce without consultation or notice, replacing them with agency crew from abroad on sub-standard employment conditions.
Nautilus International has warned that despite the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and a voluntary Seafarers’ Charter introduced by the previous government, another P&O Ferries situation can still happen.
Speaking in the aftermath of the scandal, Labour head Sir Keir Starmer vowed that he would close the employment law gaps that allowed P&O Ferries to act in the way it did.
On the first anniversary of the sackings, then Shadow Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh and Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner promised a five-point plan to prevent another P&O Ferries scandal, including the introduction of a legally binding Seafarers’ Charter.
Nautilus International general secretary, Mark Dickinson (pictured), said: “P&O Ferries’ egregious act of corporate thuggery needed to be a watershed for employment rights in the UK. Unfortunately, the last government failed to learn these lessons.
“In opposition, Labour committed to implementing a legally binding Seafarers’ Charter. Labour in government must introduce this charter as a matter of urgency to end the ongoing exploitation of seafarers in our waters.
“It is now time for Labour to deliver on this promise, ensuring words are met with action.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the government to deliver this mandatory charter and other changes to UK employment law to prevent another P&O Ferries from happening again,” he said.
Just before the election, the other UK Maritime union, RMT, criticised the Conservative Government for its failure to introduce mandatory protections for seafarers, in stark contrast to decisive action taken by the French government.
New French laws introduced recently will mandate ferry operators, such as P&O, to pay their seafarers the French national minimum wage and enforce limits on seafarers’ time on board ship.
RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch, highlighted the disparity between the French and UK governments, saying: “The French government’s decision to enforce these protections stands in stark contrast to the UK government, which has failed to introduce mandatory protections for our seafarers.”
The union has long campaigned for robust protection for UK seafarers, including a two-week on, two-week off roster pattern for ratings.
This is necessary to counteract the exploitative business model imposed by companies like P&O and Irish Ferries, which requires some seafarers to work 17 weeks at sea, undermining decent employers and safety in the maritime sector, the RMT said.
Lynch added: “We have no trust in P&O or any business run by DP World to do the right thing. The only way to ensure decent pay and conditions is through mandatory legislation and tough sanctions for non-compliance with obligations to seafarers and passengers from these multi-million pound companies.
“The new French legislation not only increases pay but will reduce seafarer fatigue and extend pension rights for agency seafarers on P&O’s and Irish Ferries’ Dover/Calais routes.
“The Tories have failed to stand up for seafarers, unlike the French, who have taken legal steps to improve pay, reduce fatigue, and extend pension rights.
“We urgently need a mandatory charter for seafarers and the closure of legal loopholes more than ever,” he stressed.
Photo credit: Maritime London
