P&O Ferries
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 2,447
KnC
I believe that when the cause is just most people recognise a wrong and will be supportive.
Sadly where the train guards / conductors disputes are concerned the RMT behave in the manner of industrial dinosaurs and get little sympathy.
I believe that when the cause is just most people recognise a wrong and will be supportive.
Sadly where the train guards / conductors disputes are concerned the RMT behave in the manner of industrial dinosaurs and get little sympathy.
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Rhones-Alpes
Posts: 344
Originally Posted by Krystal n chips
Take it this support will still be offered when the proposed series of rail industrial actions start later this year ?
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
Posts: 442
Originally Posted by Krystal n chips
Take it this support will still be offered when the proposed series of rail industrial actions start later this year ?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Southampton
Posts: 788
Originally Posted by NutLoose
I do wonder if dockworkers will refuse to handle them, then they will be royally screwed.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hove, England
Age: 57
Posts: 57
Originally Posted by Tartiflette Fan
Use current drop in passengers to push for driverless trains. I was very pleased to read that this issue is a condition of future government support for TfL. Once it is on the table, it won't disappear. Time to hold RMT's feet to the fire.
https://www.londonreconnections.com/...ss-tube-train/
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly in my own imagination
Posts: 131
Traindriving is a VERY undervalued skill. Not only do you have to stop at just the right place at the platform, but it must be ever so difficult to keep the thing on those skinny rails. I bet that takes a LOT of concentration
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 32°55'22"S 151°46'56"E
Age: 37
Posts: 594
The cross channel ferries are notoriously competitive with slim profit margins, exacerbated by the Channel Tunnel and the availability of low cost flights to some extent. There is potential for the ferries to operate outside of UK and EU employment law, the loopholes in shipping are numerous and there has never been an attempt to fix them in Europe. Quite honestly the salaries aren't particularly exceptional anyway, certainly not in line with the railways.
The interesting issue is that that it will be difficult (but not insurmountable) to replace the Masters and senior officers who hold 'pilotage exemption certificates' allowing them to operate the ferries in and out of the various cross channel ports without requiring a pilot. I suspect a few competitors will be quick to offer them jobs.
Surely there was a better way to handle this.
The interesting issue is that that it will be difficult (but not insurmountable) to replace the Masters and senior officers who hold 'pilotage exemption certificates' allowing them to operate the ferries in and out of the various cross channel ports without requiring a pilot. I suspect a few competitors will be quick to offer them jobs.
Surely there was a better way to handle this.
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Rhones-Alpes
Posts: 344
Originally Posted by L'aviateur
The
Surely there was a better way to handle this.
Surely there was a better way to handle this.
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Rhones-Alpes
Posts: 344
Originally Posted by dastocks
I recommend this article on the subject of "driverless" trains:
https://www.londonreconnections.com/...ss-tube-train/
https://www.londonreconnections.com/...ss-tube-train/
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cayley's County - Yorkshire
Posts: 189
Having just passed the 35th anniversary of the Herald of Free Enterprise loss, getting rid of all the current staff and replacing them with cheaper, presumably at least non current, or worse, inexperienced, individuals, doesn't do a lot of good for the impression of safety. From the reports I've heard they will be offering new - but worse terms - contracts to the few senior staff, such as Captains and senior engineers, whose personal certifications are required to continue operations. If they decide to jump ship then any quick restart is stuffed. All seems a bit like playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded pistol and hoping the round you choose fails to fire.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 9,171
If the current crews stay on the boats at what point to they open the sea cocks and scuttle them in the harbour, yes they settle on the sea floor and could easily be re floated etc but what a way to say I Quit 😁
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: There and here
Posts: 2,498
No arguements with the way the staff sackings have been handled, but i'd wager that P&O's revenue stream has suffered greatly during the last 2 years and now with the cost of oil and diesel shooting way up, well the probably isn't much profit to be made, so they've taken the corporate cleaver out to hack off any surplus fat that they can. However their corporate image will be tarnished and as we know that can be challenging to recapture. Oh, I know! A name change!
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Age: 61
Posts: 969
SHJ
Would sadly agree. They will use the legal eagles to bolster their position and will already have a budgeted settlement in mind. I would suggest that it may look quite good to start with but what are employment prospects in Kent or wider world for UK Merchant Navy staff who were used to going home at night.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Would sadly agree. They will use the legal eagles to bolster their position and will already have a budgeted settlement in mind. I would suggest that it may look quite good to start with but what are employment prospects in Kent or wider world for UK Merchant Navy staff who were used to going home at night.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: North of the M4
Posts: 297
Having just listened to a Sky news reporter trying to explain away P&O's business woes I couldn't help but notice how many times he mentioned the NI protocol. Stand-by for tomorrows news round when the duty ministers go round the studios trying to blame the EU and their lack of willingness to be flexible for P&O having to sack UK workers and hire Europeans. It will be all the EU's fault and of course absolutely nothing to do with the wider damage caused by Brexit. i.e. Ireland having loads of its own ferries to bypass the UK completely.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly in my own imagination
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by SpringHeeledJack
Id wager that P&O's revenue stream has suffered greatly during the last 2 years and now with the cost of oil and diesel shooting way up, well the probably isn't much profit to be made, so they've taken the corporate cleaver out to hack off any surplus fat that they can.
It's like Outsourcing: I'll believe it's a valid practice once I see high level jobs get outsourced
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: cowtown
Posts: 600
I cannot see how the owners of these ferries can maintain the confidence of the Minister of Transport that they will be operating according to the original approvals in their operators licence. Hardly being operated to the benefit of the British customers and British business interests .
An excellent opportunity for the present government to show their support for fair and equitable labours practices and support for transportation continuity before the next election .
Having worked on a ferry system that was abusive and offered very little job security , I laugh now when I see that they cannot get licensed engineering positions filled . Cancellations of sailings blamed on COVID , when they were simply lacking trained crew .
An excellent opportunity for the present government to show their support for fair and equitable labours practices and support for transportation continuity before the next election .
Having worked on a ferry system that was abusive and offered very little job security , I laugh now when I see that they cannot get licensed engineering positions filled . Cancellations of sailings blamed on COVID , when they were simply lacking trained crew .
Thought police antagonist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Where I always have been...firmly in the real world
Posts: 1,178
Originally Posted by Tartiflette Fan
If the aim was to replace the current crews, then it's pretty certain that the ferries would have been occupied and all services stopped whatever happened. If P&O really are making such huge losses ( and i mean real operating loses without any accountancy magic ) then the choices are very hard and will once again encompass the current bunch of wallies in Whitehall;
How do you feel about sending children up chimneys ...just out of interest ?
This interview last night was very interesting. The problem, is, he's a member of the current Gov't and therefore are his words just uttered for the camera, or, possible, just, do they actually have some sincerity.
Be interesting to learn which grades and staff occupations have been targeted and from where, and with what qualifications, the agency staff have been recruited,
Some of the legalities involved, albeit they are readily evident ...the outcome of this action will no doubt be watched carefully by others who may feel inclined to go the same way...
What are the legal implications of P&O Ferries sacking 800 staff? | Employment law | The Guardian
P&O Ferries sackings ‘absolute bombshell and a disaster,’ says Tory MP – Channel 4 News
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Under a gooseberry bush
Posts: 65
Not quite sure why some are (as usual and predictably) blaming the incumbent government when P&O are owned by Dubai based, DP World.
As anyone who has had any experience dealing with this particular area of the world will be well aware, it’s all about the cheapest labour with the weakest employee rights.
As anyone who has had any experience dealing with this particular area of the world will be well aware, it’s all about the cheapest labour with the weakest employee rights.
