Seafarers’ union calls for P&O Ferries CEO’s head

Maritime union Nautilus International has pointed to union pressure as the decisive factor that led to P&O Ferries CEO Peter Hebblethwaite dropping out of an industry conference – and has called on the UK government to force him to step down as the company’s boss.

In March, P&O Ferries breached UK law by firing 786 seafarers so they could be replaced with cheaper agency workers (see Fact Service issues 12, 13, 14, 16 & 17). Nautilus says that the unrepentant CEO has “trashed the once-loved company’s reputation and is an industry disgrace”.

Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson commented: “I was shocked to hear that Peter Hebblethwaite had been invited to speak on ‘power and people’ at the Interferry conference in Seattle despite his deplorable actions in March.

“As a result of campaigning by unions, Hebblethwaite dropped off the panel. He should also take this opportunity to step down as CEO, and if he fails to do that, we call on the UK government to ensure he is forced to step down.”

Nautilus has nominated Hebblethwaite – who is still under investigation by the Insolvency Service for potential civil violations – for international union federation the ITUC’s worst boss in the world poll (link below).

https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/news/nautilus-calls-for-po-ferries-boss-to-step-down-after-he-drops-out-of-industry-event-due-to-union-pressure

https://congress2022.ituc-csi.org/worst-boss?lang=en