The GMB trade union has said it fears P&O Ferries could try to re-start negotiations over pay cuts, but the company has said it had no intention to do so at this time.

Staff were alerted to the possible cuts in September last year, which resulted in a 45-day consultation.

The GMB balloted 100% of its members eligible to vote in February, and 99% rejected a pay freeze.

Regional GMB organiser Frank Macklin said: “We presented the company with the result and gave them five days’ notice to remove proposals off the table which they did that very day.”

Mr Macklin said: “The current status quo is in place with exactly the same terms and conditions. The company has accepted our members’ decisions. Whether this is going to be the end of it, I don’t know. I fully expect them to look at the options and come back.

“As far as the GMB are concerned the consultations are not ongoing. It has finished.”

P&O has told the union it no longer has proposals to cut wages.

The cuts were proposed because P&O’s fuel costs rose to more than £30 million per year in January, as low sulphur emission regulations came into place. The firm also made a £10 million loss last year.

At the end of last year, the firm confirmed 55 assistant managers would be made redundant. P&O also planned to create 49 more roles for assistant stewards, including six more manager roles.