Beggs Writes to the UK Transport Secretary & DP World about P&O

East Antrim UUP representative Roy Beggs, has written to the UK Transport Secretary Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP in relation to P&O. He has also written to DP World to ask that they review the performance of their Senior Management Team, following the decision to sack 800 UK staff, including those who operate the Larne – Cairnryan domestic sailing.

A copy of Mr Beggs correspondence with the Transport Secretary is as follows:

“I am contacting you in relation to the ongoing situation at P&O, specifically at the Port of Larne, within East Antrim. Recent reports have indicated that replacement staff for P&O could receive lower than the UK minimum wage for working as seafarers on the Larne to Cairnryan UK domestic route. I would ask that you ensure that any staff operating this domsetic route for P&O are subject to the minimum wage requirements of the United Kingdom. In addition, I would outline my support for you ensuring that any new seafarers would fully meet with any health and safety requirement reassessment, before ships depart with passengers onboard.”

Roy Beggs of the UUP also contacted DP World, the parent company of P&O, to ask for a review of their Senior Management Teams handling of the sacking of 800 staff. He said “I am contacting you in relation to the decision making processes that led DP World to sack 800 staff without warning or consultation, across the UK. Specifically my home town Port in Larne, Northern Ireland has been affected by this decision. I would urge DP World to review the performance of the Senior Management Team who took the irresponsible decisions relating to P&O staff across the UK, including those seafarers who worked on the Larne – Carnryan route. They have tarnished the good name of P&O.”

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