P&O Ferries has refuted claims that it has tried to reduce the wages of agency seafarers who have replaced its sacked staff.
Last month, the ferry company dismissed almost 800 seafarers and replaced them with workers on lower rates of pay.
The BBC reported that National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) received reports of agency workers at Dover being asked to sign contracts replacing their previous ones with reduced payment.
More: P&O Ferries ‘forced to reverse attempt at pay cut’
It said the union reported P&O Ferries to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which ensured the new workers retained their original wages.
A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said in response to the news: “No agency seafarers were asked to accept reduced wages and we have contacted the MCA to request that they withdraw their statement, which is misleading.
“There was an administrative misunderstanding around the contract presented to one individual who appears to have been unaware of an appendix which made clear that he would be entitled to an additional £195 a month, meaning that there was no change in his overall pay.
“There are no plans to change or reduce the wages of any of our agency seafarers and we have made clear that we will continue to comply fully with any national minimum wage obligations introduced by the UK government.”
A spokesperson for the MCA said: “The complaint made by the RMT union about seafarers’ welfare and employment contracts was fully investigated as part of the reinspection of Spirit of Britain and upheld.”