Talks between P&O and staff collapsed after 20 minutes as a union called for a 'total boycott' of the firm.

Maritime Union RMT made the statement after officials met with the ferry operator this afternoon to discuss the company’s decision to sack 800 seafarers on March 17.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “From the outset the full obnoxiousness and hostility of the company towards their staff and the RMT was on display.

“P&O were not prepared to listen to any scenario or develop any idea that would provide a means to create a solution to the current disastrous situation.

“The meeting broke up inside 20 minutes as P&O were simply unprepared to change their course from the illegal dismissal of 800 seafarers.

“RMT will continue to press the government for an immediate intervention by whatever means necessary to make P&O perform a U-turn and get our members reinstated, as per Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ statement on BBC this morning.

“We also call on the entire labour movement, the public, the freight and logistics sector and the political community to support an immediate and total boycott of all P&O services.

“The people of the UK need to pull P&O to account and make sure that the law in the workplace is upheld, that British workers can have job security and decent pay, and that P&O workers get workplace justice.”

The company, owned by Dubai-based DP world, sacked 786 staff over Zoom and then sent handcuff-trained security guards to escort them off the ships.

The company's chief executive, Peter Hebblethwaite, yesterday said "he would do it all again" after facing MPs at the transport and business select committee.

Mr Hebblethwaite said no union would have ever accepted the decision and the company decided to make up for this with large redundancy payoffs.

He's also confirmed the replacement staff will be paid as little as £5.15 an hour.

Mr Hebblethwaite, when asked about his pay, said he had a £325,000 basic salary with access to two performance-related bonuses.

When asked whether he would now accept or reject those bonuses he said: "I don't know the answer to that, I am focused on saving the business."

As part of the £36.5m redundancy package, 40 members of staff will be getting more than £100,000.

Pay-outs are linked to the period of service and in some cases are more than £170,000.

P&O says no employee will receive less than £15,000.