P&O Ferries has reportedly been forced to reverse an attempt to pay its new, cheaper seafarers less money.
The move comes after the 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, according to the BBC.
It said the union reported P&O Ferries to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which ensured the new workers retained their original wages.
P&O Ferries controversially sacked almost 800 employees in March and brought in cheaper agency seafarers.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said on Twitter: “Whilst it’s good P&O have reversed further attempt at a pay cut, they MUST go much further and pay the minimum wage like all UK businesses. We will legislate to force them, but they could win back some much needed credibility by acting now.”
Whilst it’s good P&O have reversed further attempt at a pay cut, they MUST go much further and pay the minimum wage like all UK businesses. We will legislate to force them, but they could win back some much needed credibility by acting nowhttps://t.co/38CdCaLBCD
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) April 24, 2022
P&O Ferries has since issued a statement to refute the report that it has tried to reduce the wages of agency seafarers. It said no agency seafarers were asked to accept reduced wages and pointed to “an administrative misunderstanding around the contract presented to one individual”.
The latest news about the ferry company’s contracts comes after its vessel, the Spirit of Britain, was cleared to resume sailing after inspections by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
It will be P&O Ferries’ first Dover-to-Calais ferry to recommence operations.
The BBC said the ferry has been on trials in the English Channel, according to marine traffic websites.
According to the P&O Ferries website, services remain suspended on the Dover-Calais route, while other links have resumed: Larne-Cairnryan; Hull-Rotterdam; and Liverpool-Dublin.