Seafarers union the RMT has blasted P&O Ferries' Covid-19 restructure as an "all-out assault on jobs, pay and working conditions."

Wage cuts, slashing sick pay, scrapping benefits for long service, and leave restrictions are among those proposed by the Dover based operation.

Replacement of UK seafarers with foreign crew is also a possibility but a company spokesman confirmed this applies to overnight services which operate out of Hull.

It comes as the company's chief executive wrote to employees this afternoon warning them redundancies and changes to contracts would follow as the company adjusts to its financial crisis through coronavirus lock down.

In a letter to members, the union listed the raft of cost saving measures proposed by the company today.

They affect ratings on the Irish Sea, North Sea and Dover-Calais fleet.

The RMT also claims the company's attempts to renegotiate contracts also applies to the purchase of two new super ferries for the Dover Calais route.

"This is nothing short of contemptuous and the Government needs to step in here to provide more guarantees to protect British seafarers’ jobs and apprenticeships for the future..."

RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said: “Threatening permanent cuts to seafarers jobs, pay and conditions and the maritime supply chain at a time of national crisis sends a message of utter contempt to my members and the country as a whole.

“Job cuts, pay cuts, taking annual leave in rest periods, replacing UK seafarers with cheaper foreign crews, statutory redundancy, cuts to sick pay – it’s all of the things that P&O Ferries have always wanted to do to our members and the UK economy.

“To use the temporary market conditions created by the Coronavirus to attack our members, the maritime workers this country will always need, is nothing short of contemptuous and the Government needs to step in here to provide more guarantees to protect British seafarers’ jobs and apprenticeships for the future."

A P&O spokesman said: "In these extremely challenging and unprecedented times, we are working hard to secure support totalling just over £250m to safeguard jobs and the viability of the business, so we can keep critical goods flowing. That requires the support of all stakeholders, including the UK government.

"Today we have started presenting proposals to the unions whose support is also absolutely essential. They need to work with us to implement these changes urgently – otherwise the business will run out of cash and even more jobs will be lost.”

Mr Cash added: “P&O Ferries say that no one is going to bail them out. Maybe they should go back to their corporate masters at DP World in Dubai who will pay a $332m dividend to private shareholders on 29 April. That would easily cover the £28.4m P&O Ferries want to rip out of the hands of my hard working members and their families.

“If P&O think that holding a gun to our members heads whilst sprinting towards the cliff edge is ‘consultation,’ then they’ve got another thing coming.”

A spokesman from DP World said: "In this crisis, our main priority with P&O is maintaining the continued flow of goods between the UK and the rest of Europe.

“We are fully committed to doing everything we can to help P&O to save jobs, keep vital supplies like food and medicine coming into the country and keep operating as a business.

“So we are all working flat-out to secure support from all stakeholders totalling just over £250m, some of which will come from DP World, some will come from cost-cutting and some will have to come from the unions if P&O is to remain a viable business.”

P&O has furloughed 1100 of its workers and is now operating a reduced freight-only service.

Staff have complained that bosses are using coronavirus as an excuse to implement job losses and worse conditions on staff and crew.

The MP for Dover Natalie Elphicke said: “I am deeply concerned by this situation. As everyone knows I have worked tirelessly to protect jobs in our area.

“I have been in talks with transport ministers as well as raising this issue with the chancellor directly to ensure that the port and the ferry companies have the support they need to continue to supply the nation on the vital route across the Channel from Dover.

“Yet it is also important for P&O to do their bit and the unions to work constructively in this difficult situation.”

A DfT spokesman said: “We recognise how challenging this period is for the Transport sector and encourage all firms to make use of the further changes to business support, announced today by the Chancellor, helping make funds easier to access for more companies.

“We’re committed to working with the devolved administrations and industry leaders, to offer the support they need and help provide certainty for workers. We will continue to directly engage maritime companies and associations to tackle these challenges.”

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