Articles

PRESS RELEASE

The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU) is disgusted with the actions of P&O Ferries, owned by Dubai-based DP World, who late last week sacked 800 hardworking U.K. seafarers without a moment’s notice, replacing them with non-union labour. The SIU stands in solidarity with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), Nautilus International and the International Transport Workers Federation in the fight for these workers livelihoods.

Crew members onboard P&O Ferries were notified via a pre-recorded message on Zoom, without prior notice, that their contracts would be terminated immediately, and the crews would be replaced with non-union workers. Private security guards then boarded the vessels to forcibly remove the crews. Buses filled with non-union crew were standing by waiting to board the ship upon the crew’s removal. This comes after P&O Ferries’ owner DP World made record revenue and profits throughout the pandemic, turning over $10.8bn in revenue and $1.2bn in profit last year, a 33% increase in profit compared with the previous year. The company has paid out $376.1 million in dividends to shareholders over the past two years alone.

“The actions of the greedy management overseeing P&O Ferries is reprehensible and is a clear violation of the employment and human rights of the hardworking seafarers who manned their vessels. Morally bankrupt billionaires should not be allowed to treat their employees with such disrespect and the SIU of Canada will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Sisters and Brothers in the UK to call on those in power to ensure that this illegal action does not stand,” stated James Given, President of the SIU of Canada.

The SIU of Canada fears the precedent that action of this nature could set in the international shipping industry, if not handled with an appropriate response. If seafarers in the UK can be undermined so egregiously, it can happen anywhere, including here in Canada. We must call out these dangerous actions for what they are, and all SIU of Canada Members must stand in solidarity with our UK counterparts.

SIU Members are encouraged to sign the ITF petition condemning these actions, which can be found here; Sign the P&O Global Letter of Protest

About the SIU of Canada: The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU) is affiliated with the Seafarers’ International Union of North America serving unlicensed sailors since 1938. The SIU has been representing seafarers working aboard vessels on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, East Coast, West Coast and Arctic since 1954. SIU Members have acquired the reputation of being amongst the best-trained and most qualified sailors in the world. The SIU represents thousands of qualified seafarers across Canada.

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