Sacked P&O worker says scandal could happen again

Mr Lansdown called on the government to "ban fire and rehire" practices

A former P&O Ferries worker has said the government has not taken "any meaningful action" to prevent mass sackings of seafarers, while another scandal "could happen again tomorrow".

John Lansdown, a former sous chef on the Dover to Calais route, added that he believed ferry companies had been put ahead of the "lives and livelihoods of British workers".

It comes as trade unions said ministers had "done nothing" to stop another scandal, two years after P&O Ferries fired 786 of its staff.

The Department for Transport said it had worked "at pace" to ensure "ironclad" legislation was in place to prevent a similar event happening.

The firm fired staff without notice or union consultation to replace them with low-paid agency staff, which P&O admitted had broken the law.

Following the sackings, the government announced a review of all its contracts with P&O Ferries.

However between March 2022 and July 2023, the Ministry of Defence spent nearly £600,000 with the firm for freight and passenger transport.

The government had pledged to pass the Seafarers' Wages Act, to boost pay protections for the industry, but the legislation is yet to come into force.

Meanwhile, the government's voluntary Seafarers' Charter, aimed at improving working conditions, has not been signed by P&O Ferries.

Mr Lansdown, from Herne Bay, is thought to be the only sacked worker to speak publicly after refusing a £30,000 pay out from the firm in exchange for signing a non-disclosure agreement.

Mr Lansdown said there were no "meaningful sanctions" under the Seafarers' Wages Act

He told BBC South East: "I feel that the Government have put investment from...DP World [which owns P&O Ferries] ahead of the lives and livelihoods of British workers.

"My message to the government is now ban fire and rehire, outlaw it completely, get hold of this legislation and beef it up."

In a joint-statement issued on Sunday, the TUC, Nautilus and RMT said the firm had "faced no sanctions and have seemingly been let off the hook".

They have also called for the introduction of a mandatory Seafarers' Charter.

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said "tough but necessary changes" meant 2,200 jobs had been "saved" while the business was on track to be profitable again.

"We provide an industry-leading support package for our crew and work hard to ensure their welfare, wellbeing and mental health are properly cared for.

"We always pay at least the minimum wage required by national and international law.”