
8 June 2020
RMT Press Office:
RMT slams scandal of taxpayer support for P&O shareholders as they plan to axe 1100 UK seafarer jobs.
P&O SEAFARERS Union RMT today reacted with fury following the release of Government contracts detailing the UK taxpayers’ support for roll-on roll-off ferry operators during the pandemic.
Critical Freight Grant payments have been allocated to operators to keep essential goods, medical and veterinary supplies coming into the country. The recipient of the highest amount is P&O Ferries who are seeking to cut 1,100 jobs on the same routes by the end of this month.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said;
“The Government is supporting ferry companies to the tune of over £33m until mid-July. By that time, P&O Ferries will have put 1,100 workers – mostly seafarers in Dover and Hull – on the dole and working class seafarers will have been failed by this Government.
“RMT continues to demand that the Shipping Minister works with the maritime unions and cross-party MPs on a rescue package that saves key workers’ jobs at P&O.
“Like the aviation industry, ferries are strategically vital to the economy and my members do not appreciate being treated differently to other key workers in the transport sector. It is time for the Government to act to stop these job losses.”
Ends.
Route |
Portsmouth-Santander Brittany Ferries - £1,508,265 |
Portsmouth-Cherbourg Brittany Ferries - £1,042,551 |
Poole-Bilbao Brittany Ferries - £370,395 |
Dover-Dunkerque DFDS - £3,068,766 |
Dover-Calais P&O - £1,173,915 DFDS - £3,770,838 |
Folkestone-Coquelles (Channel Tunnel) £3,431,863 |
Cairnryan-Larne P&O - £3,581,685 |
Tilbury-Zeebrugge P&O - £2,053,206 |
Teesport-Europoort P&O - £1,098,369 |
Hull-Europoort P&O - £3,504,249 |
Hull-Zeebrugge P&O - £1,842,210 |
Heysham-Warrenpoint Seatruck - £849,159 |
Rotterdam-Killingholme Stena Line - £2,018,547 |
Cairnryan-Belfast Stena Line - £1,077,597 |
Harwich-Rotterdam Stena Line - £1,822,365 |
Harwich-Hoek van Holland Stena Line - £1,608,003 |