The abrupt and illegal firing of 800 British sailors by a major ferry operator, P&O Ferries, has led the P&O Cruises, a division of Carnival to take out ads explaining they’re not the ones to be mad at.
The ads explain that “Our names may both begin with P&O. But that’s where the similarity ends. We are separate organisations and have been for 20 years.” P&O Cruises has been part of Carnival since 2000. Along with several other companies bearing the name, they are descended from one of the UK’s shipping giants of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The ferry company, which is owned by the government of Dubai, fired the crews without notice last week, by Zoom. Its CEO, Peter Hebblethwaite told Parliament that he knew the action was illegal and required advance notice and consultation, but that he would do it again anyway, to keep the company profitable.
The new crews, supplied by an agency, are paid only about 60% of what the fired workers earned, and well under the national minimum wage. Calls for his resignation have been growing, and the Transport Minister says bills will be introduced requiring the company to pay at least the national minimum.
Meanwhile, the cruise company is busily handling hundreds of angry emails and tweets from people who think it’s them.
