P&O Ferries protesters in Liverpool moved on by police
Anti-P&O protesters have been moved from the entrance to the Port of Liverpool by police.
Last updated 23rd Mar 2022
Anti-P&O protesters have been moved from the entrance to the Port of Liverpool by police.
Around 40 demonstrators blocked the road leading to the port, where P&O operates a Liverpool to Dublin service, from around 8am this morning (Wednesday 23 March).
The protest, organised by the RMT union, caused a tailback of lorries heading into the port.
Demonstrators shouted: "P&O, shame on you."
At around 8.35am, police officers moved protesters from the road, warning them they could be arrested if they did not move.
Darren Ireland, RMT regional organiser, said:
"We're trying to get the point across about the way P&O is treating seafarers, it is absolutely shocking."
P&O's claims that it had not broken any laws over the sacking of its staff as they were not employed in the UK do not mean that the ferry firm will not face legal action, Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Frances O'Grady has said.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms O'Grady said: "They're claiming that but, of course, we don't believe their legal advice is right and in the past, in fact, P&O has followed consultation rules, so either their very expensive legal advice has changed or their morals have just fallen through the floor."
She said it was the case that one of their ferries was registered in Cyprus and another in the Bahamas, adding: "These are all about tax arrangements, but it's the workers' contracts that we're looking closely at".
She said: "We believe that P&O has acted unlawfully. It's now clear that they deliberately flouted UK law in failing to consult with workers and their unions and sacking those 800 loyal and skilled seafarers.
"We also now know, of course, that ministers knew that the sackings were imminent, and they knew before the workers knew, and they failed to inform unions too, so now the ball is in the Government's court to make sure that P&O either reinstates those workers or they pay a very high price."