A number of unions and global union federations have written to the International Labour Organization (ILO) committee of experts, concerning breaches of the labour rights conferred by Conventions 87 and 98 following P&O Ferries’ illegal firing of seafarers without consultation, is a serious violation of the ILO’s principles concerning the freedom of association and collective bargaining.
On this issue, Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the ITUC, said: “Decent jobs, freedom of association and collective bargaining must be at the heart of employment laws. Labour laws must protect workers. Now is the time for the UK Government to stamp out fire and rehire, bolster their laws and enforce heavy sanctions on companies who fail to comply.”
For more information on the ILO committee of experts, click here.
For more information on the trade union complaint, see the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) press release here and the TUC press release here.