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P&O Ferries boss urged to quit after 'brazen' comments about breaking the lawChief executive Peter Hebblethwaite has been blasted after he admitted the firm broke the law
By Paul Hutcheon
Political Editor,
Daily Record
25 MAR 2022
'HE'LL HAVE TO GO' - GRANT SHAPPS GIVES BLUNT REVIEW OF P&O BOSS AND EXPLAINS NEXT STEPS FROM GOVERNMENT
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has called for the boss of P&O Ferries to resign after his “brazen” comments about “knowingly breaking the law” and vowed to force the company to “U-turn” and pay its crews the minimum wage.
Chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite admitted the ferry giant broke employment law when it sacked 800 workers without notice.
The Transport Secretary told Sky News on Friday: “I thought what the boss of P&O Ferries said yesterday about knowingly breaking the law was brazen and breathtaking, and showed incredible arrogance.
“I cannot believe that he can stay in that role having admitted to deliberately go out and use a loophole – well, break the law, but also use a loophole.”
Pressed on whether that meant he was calling for Hebblethwaite to resign “right now”, he said: “Yes.”
On Thursday, Hebblethwaite was urged by MPs to quit after acknowledging there is “absolutely no doubt” the ferry operator was required to consult with trade unions.
The company replaced its crews with cheaper agency workers last week.
'HE'LL HAVE TO GO' - GRANT SHAPPS GIVES BLUNT REVIEW OF P&O BOSS AND EXPLAINS NEXT STEPS FROM GOVERNMENT
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has called for the boss of P&O Ferries to resign after his “brazen” comments about “knowingly breaking the law” and vowed to force the company to “U-turn” and pay its crews the minimum wage.
Chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite admitted the ferry giant broke employment law when it sacked 800 workers without notice.
The Transport Secretary told Sky News on Friday: “I thought what the boss of P&O Ferries said yesterday about knowingly breaking the law was brazen and breathtaking, and showed incredible arrogance.
“I cannot believe that he can stay in that role having admitted to deliberately go out and use a loophole – well, break the law, but also use a loophole.”
Pressed on whether that meant he was calling for Hebblethwaite to resign “right now”, he said: “Yes.”
On Thursday, Hebblethwaite was urged by MPs to quit after acknowledging there is “absolutely no doubt” the ferry operator was required to consult with trade unions.
The company replaced its crews with cheaper agency workers last week.
P&O' Ferries' Peter Hebblethwaite (Image: Universal News & Sport (Europe)
P&O chief exec admits firm broke the law yet insists he would make same decision again
Yesterday
The P&O Ferries boss went on to reveal to MPs he is paid a basic salary of £325,000 a year.
The chief executive of P&O Ferries has admitted that the firm broke the law when it decided to sack 800 workers without consultation or notice, while at the same time insisting that he would make the same decision again.
Peter Hebblethwaite appeared before MPs yesterday, where he admitted that there was ‘absolutely no doubt’ the company was required to consult with unions before taking action.
He was interrupted by Labour MP Andy McDonald who asked: “So you chose to break the law? Hebblethwaite continued: “We chose not to consult and we are – and will – compensate everybody in full for that.”
In an extraordinary exchange, McDonald then asked: “When you get in your car and drive on the motorway [and] see the 70mph sign, do you decide that’s not going to apply to me? I’m going to do 90 because I think it’s important that I do that? Is that how you go about your life?”
Appearing before the Transport and Business Select Committees, Hebblethwaite was also asked if he would make the decision again, to which he replied he would as it has saved the business.
Earlier this month, P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff that work on its vessels with immediate effect, with plans to use cheap agency staff on its ships instead.
The leading UK ferry operator sacked its staff without notice or consultation. The move sparked outrage among workers, many of whom refused to leave the ships and security guards were seen placing handcuffs on them as they were told to remove workers.
P&O’s decision to sack its workforce in such a callous manner received widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with the government calling the treatment of workers ‘wholly unacceptable’.
The P&O Ferries boss went on to reveal to MPs he is paid a basic salary of £325,000 a year. Asked about whether he would be accepting a bonus following the sackings, he refused to rule it out, saying: “I don’t know the answer to that.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
The P&O Ferries boss went on to reveal to MPs he is paid a basic salary of £325,000 a year.
The chief executive of P&O Ferries has admitted that the firm broke the law when it decided to sack 800 workers without consultation or notice, while at the same time insisting that he would make the same decision again.
Peter Hebblethwaite appeared before MPs yesterday, where he admitted that there was ‘absolutely no doubt’ the company was required to consult with unions before taking action.
He was interrupted by Labour MP Andy McDonald who asked: “So you chose to break the law? Hebblethwaite continued: “We chose not to consult and we are – and will – compensate everybody in full for that.”
In an extraordinary exchange, McDonald then asked: “When you get in your car and drive on the motorway [and] see the 70mph sign, do you decide that’s not going to apply to me? I’m going to do 90 because I think it’s important that I do that? Is that how you go about your life?”
Appearing before the Transport and Business Select Committees, Hebblethwaite was also asked if he would make the decision again, to which he replied he would as it has saved the business.
Earlier this month, P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff that work on its vessels with immediate effect, with plans to use cheap agency staff on its ships instead.
The leading UK ferry operator sacked its staff without notice or consultation. The move sparked outrage among workers, many of whom refused to leave the ships and security guards were seen placing handcuffs on them as they were told to remove workers.
P&O’s decision to sack its workforce in such a callous manner received widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with the government calling the treatment of workers ‘wholly unacceptable’.
The P&O Ferries boss went on to reveal to MPs he is paid a basic salary of £325,000 a year. Asked about whether he would be accepting a bonus following the sackings, he refused to rule it out, saying: “I don’t know the answer to that.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
Tories slammed for ‘crocodile tears’ over P&O workers after blocking law aimed at banning Fire and Rehire
Last year, the government blocked a new law to curb businesses' ability to fire and rehire.
Basit Mahmood 18 March, 2022
Tory MPs and ministers are today being slammed for their hypocrisy and for ‘shedding crocodile tears’ over the 800 workers sacked by P&O, after it was pointed out that the government blocked a law last year that would’ve banned fire and rehire and curbed the very practices carried out by P&O.
P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff that work on its vessels with immediate effect, with plans to use cheap agency staff on its ships instead.
The leading UK ferry operator sacked its staff without notice or consultation. The move sparked outrage among workers, many of whom refused to leave the ships and security guards were seen placing handcuffs on them as they were told to remove workers.
The company has been condemned, including by the government. Robert Courts, parliamentary under-secretary for transport said: “Reports of workers being given zero notice and escorted off their ships… shows the insensitive way in which P&O have approached this issue.”
P&O plan to replace sacked workers with cheaper agency staff and are encouraging former staff to apply for agency work, in a practice known as ‘fire and rehire’, whereby sacked staff are rehired on worse terms and conditions.
Last year, the government blocked a new law to curb businesses’ ability to fire and rehire. The private members bill put forward by Labour MP Barry Gardiner also said employees should be ‘fully consulted on any fire-and-rehire plans’.
Yet Tory MPs who are today condemning P&O seem to have forgotten that they blocked a bill designed to stop this exact situation.
Jo Maugham, director of the Good Law Project tweeted: “In the Summer of last year
@BarryGardiner introduced a Private Members Bill that would have made it a criminal offence to do what P&O Ferries did yesterday. But a Government Minister ‘talked it out’ (i.e. killed it).”
In response to Grant Shapps claiming that he was concerned about the news from P&O ferries, one social media user wrote: “In October, you and your colleagues were on a three-line whip to oppose Barry Gardiner’s bill to ban “fire and rehire” as many European governments have already done. Reports this evening say you knew about P&O’s plans on Wednesday. How “concerned” are you?”
Another social media user wrote: “12 years committing to blatantly anti-foreigner policies and then uproar cos we can’t take refugees. 12 years suppressing trade union power & workers rights then uproar cos P&O sack 800 workers. Tories own these. Ignore their crocodile tears – they don’t give a s***.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
Last year, the government blocked a new law to curb businesses' ability to fire and rehire.
Basit Mahmood 18 March, 2022
Tory MPs and ministers are today being slammed for their hypocrisy and for ‘shedding crocodile tears’ over the 800 workers sacked by P&O, after it was pointed out that the government blocked a law last year that would’ve banned fire and rehire and curbed the very practices carried out by P&O.
P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff that work on its vessels with immediate effect, with plans to use cheap agency staff on its ships instead.
The leading UK ferry operator sacked its staff without notice or consultation. The move sparked outrage among workers, many of whom refused to leave the ships and security guards were seen placing handcuffs on them as they were told to remove workers.
The company has been condemned, including by the government. Robert Courts, parliamentary under-secretary for transport said: “Reports of workers being given zero notice and escorted off their ships… shows the insensitive way in which P&O have approached this issue.”
P&O plan to replace sacked workers with cheaper agency staff and are encouraging former staff to apply for agency work, in a practice known as ‘fire and rehire’, whereby sacked staff are rehired on worse terms and conditions.
Last year, the government blocked a new law to curb businesses’ ability to fire and rehire. The private members bill put forward by Labour MP Barry Gardiner also said employees should be ‘fully consulted on any fire-and-rehire plans’.
Yet Tory MPs who are today condemning P&O seem to have forgotten that they blocked a bill designed to stop this exact situation.
Jo Maugham, director of the Good Law Project tweeted: “In the Summer of last year
@BarryGardiner introduced a Private Members Bill that would have made it a criminal offence to do what P&O Ferries did yesterday. But a Government Minister ‘talked it out’ (i.e. killed it).”
In response to Grant Shapps claiming that he was concerned about the news from P&O ferries, one social media user wrote: “In October, you and your colleagues were on a three-line whip to oppose Barry Gardiner’s bill to ban “fire and rehire” as many European governments have already done. Reports this evening say you knew about P&O’s plans on Wednesday. How “concerned” are you?”
Another social media user wrote: “12 years committing to blatantly anti-foreigner policies and then uproar cos we can’t take refugees. 12 years suppressing trade union power & workers rights then uproar cos P&O sack 800 workers. Tories own these. Ignore their crocodile tears – they don’t give a s***.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
Fresh calls to ban fire and rehire after P&O Ferries sacks entire UK workforce and replaces them with agency workers
'Fire and rehire must end. This is destroying lives'
Workers across the country urge MPs to back bill to ban Fire and Rehire
'Fire and rehire must end. This is destroying lives'
18 March, 2022
Fresh calls are being made for the government to outlaw the shameful practice of fire and rehire, after P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff that work on its vessels with immediate effect, with plans to use cheap agency staff on its ships instead.
The leading UK ferry operator sacked its staff without notice or consultation. The move sparked outrage among workers, many of whom refused to leave the ships and security guards were seen placing handcuffs on them as they were told to remove workers.
P&O’s decision to sack its workforce in such a callous manner received widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with the government calling the treatment of workers ‘wholly unacceptable’.
“Reports of workers being given zero notice and escorted off their ships… shows the insensitive way in which P&O have approached this issue,” said Robert Courts, parliamentary under secretary for transport.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said that the company ‘must not be allowed to get away’ with the mass sacking. Starmer also tweeted: “What P&O Ferries have done is disgusting.
“If the Conservatives had introduced stronger employment rights, as Labour proposed, they would never have been able to get away with it.”
Following the revelations that P&O planned to replace sacked workers with cheaper agency staff, encouraging former staff to apply for agency work, unions and opposition politicians have once more called for the practice of ‘fire and rehire’ to be banned.
Fire and rehire refers to companies sacking workers and rehiring them on worse pay and conditions.
The government had previously blocked a new law to curb businesses’ ability to lay staff off and take them back on worse pay and terms.
Labour MP Louise Haigh is among those who has called for the practice of fire and rehire to end after the sackings and Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted: “This Government has enabled poor business practices that exploit workers.
“Fire and rehire must end. This is destroying lives.”
Labour MP Ian Lavery tweeted: “Solidarity to the @RMTunion seafarers given a minutes notice to be replaced by cheap contract workers. 800 loyal workers instantly dismissed !!!.
“The Government needs to intervene and demand an immediate U turn from P&O.
“Fire & Rehire at its very worst.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
Fresh calls are being made for the government to outlaw the shameful practice of fire and rehire, after P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff that work on its vessels with immediate effect, with plans to use cheap agency staff on its ships instead.
The leading UK ferry operator sacked its staff without notice or consultation. The move sparked outrage among workers, many of whom refused to leave the ships and security guards were seen placing handcuffs on them as they were told to remove workers.
P&O’s decision to sack its workforce in such a callous manner received widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with the government calling the treatment of workers ‘wholly unacceptable’.
“Reports of workers being given zero notice and escorted off their ships… shows the insensitive way in which P&O have approached this issue,” said Robert Courts, parliamentary under secretary for transport.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said that the company ‘must not be allowed to get away’ with the mass sacking. Starmer also tweeted: “What P&O Ferries have done is disgusting.
“If the Conservatives had introduced stronger employment rights, as Labour proposed, they would never have been able to get away with it.”
Following the revelations that P&O planned to replace sacked workers with cheaper agency staff, encouraging former staff to apply for agency work, unions and opposition politicians have once more called for the practice of ‘fire and rehire’ to be banned.
Fire and rehire refers to companies sacking workers and rehiring them on worse pay and conditions.
The government had previously blocked a new law to curb businesses’ ability to lay staff off and take them back on worse pay and terms.
Labour MP Louise Haigh is among those who has called for the practice of fire and rehire to end after the sackings and Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted: “This Government has enabled poor business practices that exploit workers.
“Fire and rehire must end. This is destroying lives.”
Labour MP Ian Lavery tweeted: “Solidarity to the @RMTunion seafarers given a minutes notice to be replaced by cheap contract workers. 800 loyal workers instantly dismissed !!!.
“The Government needs to intervene and demand an immediate U turn from P&O.
“Fire & Rehire at its very worst.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
Workers across the country urge MPs to back bill to ban Fire and Rehire
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