It is gangster capitalism and if employers continue to get away with it then we are heading towards chaos and fear across all sectors of our society at work
The decision by Dubai based owners of P&O Ferries to illegally sack 800 seafarers needs to become a battle that the rogue employer will never recover from.
Already trade unions and politicians across the divides are mounting a challenge with opposition growing by the hour. However it must become a war of attrition that sends a message to other “gangster capitalists”, as they have been described by Mick Lynch the RMT leader, that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.
There needs to be industrial, legal and political action to support the workforce, some who were removed by security staff wearing balaclavas and carrying handcuffs and other tools of their trade.
The trade union movement need to unite over this, with some unions taking a close look at their own divisive tactics and widespread poaching while employers gloat and pick terms, conditions and rights off at will.
The implications for this jobs carnage are wide and damaging. It is aimed at cost cutting but the cost to the workers is our focus, with people unfairly sacked and replaced by cheaper labour hitting living standards and causing massive stress to families. The health and safety of remaining staff as well as the passengers who will travel on the ferries are at risk. While the call for the public to boycott travel on P&O has already become viral across all media.
Demonstrations at the Ports of Dover, Hull and our own docks at Liverpool have kicked off immediately and will hopefully be supported by growing numbers as word spreads. The whole issue of companies like this sacking staff without consultation with the relevant unions is illegal, but we need more than tribunal awards to teach them a lesson. This could not happen in many other countries and we need a government that will bring in robust laws to protect workers. Tory ministers have already condemned the sackings but then immediately wring their hands and start rolling over to explain this is a “commercial decision”. It is gangster capitalism and if employers continue to get away with it then we are heading towards chaos and fear across all sectors of our society at work. GMB General Secretary Gary Smith has described it as an attack on workers, “abysmal treatment” and “a new low” he is spot on and we cannot sit back and watch in silence.
