Business
P&O Comparison ‘Completely Misleading’
Nautilus has previously said that the company has not been honest in negotiations.
The Steam Packet has said that comparisons made by some, including an MHK, to its actions and those of P&O ferries are wrong.
P&O was heavily criticised for firing 800 members of staff on the spot in March 2022 before replacing them with agency staff.
The Steam Packet has begun a 30-day consultation period with members of the Nautilus union which will gave staff time to consider whether to accept new terms and conditions or not.
Remember P&O media thrashing when they actually did this? How to attract a new workforce to the Island? Appalling! https://t.co/aFy8iAS93d
— Tim Glover (@timgloverash) September 27, 2023
A company spokesman said: ‘The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has negotiated with the unions for over two years, made a number of concessions and followed due process throughout.
‘As a result, one union, representing about 70% of the sea going staff, has accepted the amended terms and conditions in exchange for a compensation package that includes:
• increased manning levels on Manxman to spread the workload
• an option of either one week on/one week-off or two weeks on/two weeks-off
• an additional 6 days annual leave
• a 5% live on-board bonus for the first year
‘When it became clear that further negotiation would be unproductive, the company continued to follow due process in informing Nautilus of its intention to enter a 30-day consultation period. This provides Nautilus members with time to make a final decision on whether to accept the change in terms and conditions and the compensation package on offer.’
They added that the company ‘does not want to put any of its staff in this position’ but that it ‘cannot ignore the business case’ for the changes which it says will benefit the whole island.
And said: ‘Any comparison with the action taken by P&O Ferries, is completely misleading. The company has engaged honestly and openly with the unions and tried to reach an amicable agreement. It has no intention of reducing pay, employing cheaper agency labour or changing any of the other terms and conditions.’
Nautilus has previously said that the company has not been honest in negotiations and has threatened industrial action.
