Industrial action during summer holidays a possibility

by Adam Westgarth

P&O employees could go on strike in time for the summer holidays if issues over manning levels are not addressed, union officials have warned.

Ratings union RMT is locked in a row with the cross-Channel ferry firm about falling crew numbers.

It is understood union members raised grievances about low staff levels in the deck department on board The European Seaway, The Pride of Dover, The Pride of Burgundy and The Pride of Kent.

But the ferry firm has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it always conforms to safety legislation set out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on all of its ships. A spokesman said: “We are actively engaging with the MCA as, quite rightly, the MCA – not the unions or ferry companies – set the base for safety standards. There can be no question over safety.”

The dispute has been going for almost a year, and in a letter to P&O, leaked to the

In the letter, dated April 27, Mr Todd says: “The present attitude and the way issues are being dealt with is resulting in repeated request from our members for a ballot for industrial action. We also already have a legal opinion that advises us we do have a genuine dispute situation over short-hand sailing.”

Members of the deck department on a ship have a wide range of responsibilities which include helping to moor the vessel as well as assisting passengers in the event of an emergency evacuation.

The RMT has also raised concerns regarding P&O proposals to change muster list requirements, which dictate what crew members and officers are responsible for in times of an emergency or accident on board a ferry. In his letter Mr Todd adds: “These proposals are seen by RMT and our members as a further attack on manning levels and will, in our view, only lead to an erosion of safety standards.”

P&O said recent meetings with the MCA had been arranged to set a new fleet standard for muster lists following the introduction of chute evacuation systems on vessels such as The Pride of Kent and The Pride of Canterbury.

A spokesman said: “We’re clear how closely we work with the safety authorities, but we’re not clear why the union feels the need to write in these terms, so we will make every effort to allay the union’s concerns.”