P&O Ferries: Dozens protest at Dover Docks over redundancies

Protesters marched through Dover following P&O's redundancy announcement

A protest has been held in Dover over P&O's decision to make 800 ferry workers redundant.

Dozens of people marched to the ferry terminal at the Eastern Docks.

P&O's chief executive has apologised for the impact of the sackings, but said "fundamental change" was needed to keep the firm in business.

The Prime Minister has also told the House of Commons the government will be taking legal action, saying "it looks as if the company has broken the law".

John Lansdown, one of the workers who was sacked, took part in the protest.

He said: "They think because they've got power and money they can simply disregard due process.

"There was a clear process to follow, they've ignored it. That might wash in Dubai but it certainly doesn't wash in the United Kingdom."

Dover resident Keith Sansum took part because he is concerned about the impact on the town.

"It's the knock on effect on everything else," he said, "the small shop, the dock itself, all these people are going to be losing money through what P&O's done."

P&O said it is offering the sacked workers a total of £36.5m in compensation

The protest in Dover coincided with a similar event in Liverpool.

P&O Ferries has said the 800 redundant staff would be offered £36.5m in total, with about 40 people getting more than £100,000 each.

The firm's CEO, Peter Hebblethwaite, has apologised for the impact of the decision.

In a statement he said: "We needed fundamental change to make us viable. All other routes led to the closure of P&O Ferries.

"I wish there was another way and I'm sorry."

Mr Hebblethwaite is due to appear before MPs on the Transport Committee on Thursday.

• P&O Ferries offers £100,000 to some sacked staff

• Are the P&O Ferries sackings legal?

• New P&O crew on less than £2 an hour, union claims

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday Boris Johnson said: "Under section 194 of the trades union and labour relations act of 1992, it looks to me as though the company concerned has broken the law.

"And we will be taking action therefore, and we will be encouraging workers themselves to take action under the 1996 employment rights act."

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