Hull CDS Energy workers' sacking is 'P&O Two', union says

Sacked CDS Energy workers have gathered early in the morning at Saltend, near Hull, for several days

The dismissal of about 60 workers at a Hull firm has been likened by a union to recent mass sackings by P&O Ferries.

Sacked CDS Energy workers have been demonstrating outside the city's Saltend oil and gas terminal, where the firm is based, since Tuesday.

GMB union members have accused the firm of sacking its whole workforce then attempting to rehire about 30 of them.

CDS Energy Services said it was confident it had "followed the correct and appropriate procedures".

Danny Laybourne, director at CDS, said the firm had been working with a client on a short-term contract at Saltend Chemicals Park.

He said only four members of the construction team were CDS employees and the rest were self-employed.

He said when the contract ended the client approached the firm with a new contract involving different duties.

Mr Laybourne said CDS had then spoken with a number of people involved in the construction project to look at "providing their services ... once more on a self-employed basis."

He added: "Throughout this process, we are confident we have at all times followed the correct and appropriate procedures following the completion of the work.

Shaun Clarkson, from the GMB, said: "At a meeting, I called it 'P&O Two'. It is fire and rehire."

P&O Ferries' decision last month to sack 800 staff nationally in favour of lower-paid replacements affected about 80 staff in Hull.

Andy Simpson, a member of the GMB union, called for "fair process to get the lads back"

Of the present dispute with CDS Energy, Mr Clarkson said: "This could be the thin edge of the wedge and others will follow."

He said members of both the GMB and Unite unions were involved in the dispute with CDS Energy, which describes itself on its website as a specialist in energy contracting services.

At a meeting with CDS on Wednesday, two workforce representatives had called for a "fit and proper process if people are finished," Mr Clarkson said.

"We are looking at a proper way of finding re-employment and we asked for an assurance there would be a dialogue."

Mr Clarkson added that if no agreement was reached, the unions would call a mass meeting on Monday.

Andy Simpson, one of those sacked by CDS Energy, said: "They've fired us all, the workforce, and they are rehiring as they see fit.

"All we want is a fair process to get the lads back."