'Are you just a shameless criminal?': P&O boss grilled over mass sackings
P&O Ferries chose to sack 800 workers without consultation because ‘no union could accept our proposals’, the firm’s boss admitted to a Commons committee investigating the controversial decision.
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Furious MPs told Peter Hebblethewaite - who started the hearing with an apology - the firm was ‘behaving like gangsters’ and asked if he was ‘a shameless criminal’
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#PandO #ferries #sacked #shameless
UK politics: latest updates ► www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2022/mar/24/rishi-sunak-says-he-cant-make-every-problem-go-away-after-criticism-of-spring-statement-uk-politics-live P&O Ferries should have consulted sacked staff but chose not to, boss admits ► www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/24/po-ferries-boss-says-800-staff-were-sacked-because-no-union-would-accepts-its-plans
5.50 an hour. Get f**ked
@Spitfire Hunter Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦
Doris Nonsense & his Terrorist Government to blame!
@Spitfire Hunter nothing wrong with letting people be free to negotiate for themselves. Live and let live
@Spitfire Hunter rice is 0.41p per 2000 calories Kirkland water is 0.70p per litre a human can survive on two litres of water and 2000 calories a day. That’s a total of £2.11 so work for 1.5 hrs a day at £1.80 per hour and chill out the rest of the day you have survived and saved 0.59p. it’s pretty basic economics don’t know why you could not work that out for yourself
It's quite clear. A company that refuses to pay national minimum wage should not be in business. Full stop.
Minimum wage is nice. But most small company owners don't even pay themselves that. Closing down would mean unemployment.
@@kynchan3332 I'm sorry but I don't go along with this small business argument. I've heard it so many times. If your business is so small that you cannot even pay yourself min wage then I would argue that you are flogging a dead horse. For pitys sake and your own sanity give it up. Do something that makes a decent wage.
@@gmf121266 For the hours worked, which are considerable, it is below minimum wage. There are also not the reliable employers to provide enough hours in the local vicinity. So a nice compromise is to minimize the cost of living, which is possible with some waste land ownership to provide many of the essentials and generally doing without the niceties. But if you look at inflation, most work does not keep up with it. But the yard, land and buildings have appreciated far faster than the hourly rate and from that it is possible to borrow against those assets to acquire other unattractive assets, that with some work will also appreciate faster than most wages and provide some production in the process to keep going.
@Marvi Wilson Well sorry but I think that stinks considering how much the management is paying itself from the companies profits. OK so it's not illegal but it is morally unjustifiable.
@Marvi Wilson The employees might get free accommodation, food, medical care and qualify for tax relief - Seafarers Earnings Deduction - to make up for what would be the minimum wage.
CEO's who openly admit to breaking the law should be arrested and charged like any normal person would be.
And those who don’t freely admit it should be found innocent or guilty by the courts - with a punishment that is more than an easily paid fine.
If the penalty for a crime is a fine, that law only exists for the lower classes
@@maigepresents5840 The CEO is an employee of the company, acting on it's behalf, so it can only be a fine. However his tenure as CEO may now be short lived.
All of the directors of this company should be banned for ever holding any directorships in the UK forever.
no he shouldnt
"There's no way what we did could be legal, so we opted to adopt an alternative legal framework."
after all this he still cant say NO to his bonus!!!
He has stated that £5.50 is the *average* hourly salary. That means there are going to be people who are being paid below that. That's insane.
His salary, and his cronies at £300k probably pushed that average up somewhat!
pay goes as low as £2 an hour
Is that £5.50 what P and O will be paying the agency or is that what the new staff will get themselves?
dont like the pay dont work there simple
@@jimmyormerod4075 no they have to be paying the National Minimum Wage
I've seen it happen over and over again with many companies. Greed, lack of investment, scrounging on people for years. Companies go bust, CEOs go rich and often start a business again to go thru the same cycle.
I’ve never forgiven Dyson, he shat on the people who made him.
Yes CEOS go from one company to another..
I’m sorry but if the Trade Unions aren’t willing to concede on anything and cooperate with a corporation then the only solution is firing
and NDA are gagging orders - which should be against the law. They will be telling those people, this is your redundancy amount XYZ, But if you sign this NDA the amount will increased by XYZ. People with no job no finances and probably no savings will sign. Its a legal gagging order and it should be abolished for emotional blackmail.
@@XAKatiyax Why should the trade union accept changes that would make their members work for under the NMW? They committed multiple crimes here, including Discrimination, by firing a majority British Staff and instead hiring staff from India for under £1.80 per hour, and some from Mainland Europe at £3 per hour. It is abhorrent business management that leads to these issues. P&O received over £1bn in Furlough along with Business Assistance and access to Loans. They chose to spend that money frivolously. Can't go for the neck of the Unions on this one im afraid.
This is characteristic of the narcissistic traits that sadly “most” CEO’s MD’s and general managers display on a daily basis, they only feel sorry for themselves and are only concerned that “they” have been taken to task… the workers are nothing but a side note, I’ve seen it with every employer I’ve worked for, ppls wellbeing doesn’t earn money therefore does not concern the hierarchy.
It's not surprising even if you looked at from a psychological side. There was a guy on the Joe Rogan podcast that interviewed (I think he did the interviewing or read up on it) over a hundred ceos, ceos of multimillion or multi billion companies and he found out that over 90% of the interviewed ceos showcase psychopathic tendencies or characteristics. And when you read up on the characteristics of psychopaths, it falls in line with what CEOs basically are doing in their day to day lives.
absolutely and everybody would behave the same way
@@georgeousthegorgeous oh that makes it ok then but you are wrong my son has started his own business and has deliberately opted for any profits over a certain amount going to charity
Dont be silly, employees wellbeing? what's that, its only important if the employer is sick. and then there is febricity is only for employees for follow, employers don't need to be flexible.
spot on mate
RIP P&O brand reputation
And I thought Bankers were vile. This CEO takes the prize. Laying off 800 people in a Zoom meeting while collecting a million pounds with bonus etc. Awful!
Sadly this is not the first time. Look up zoom sackings. Some are trying to make it the new norm...
American CEOs' greed slowly spreading.
just use a zoom call lay off working people
Think of how they've helped the UK government f**k the entire country by causing thus distraction
When large amounts of money are at stake even the nicest people can become vile.
It seems to me , people in power seem to get away with apologies , yet the ordinary man in the street would be straight to jail.
It's not even a sincere apology
Ohhh ya don’t say??? Lol Been this way for THOUSANDS of years and it will continue this way until the human race ends in the next 100 years.
And the ordinary man in the street will vote for the people in power that do all this to him. So who is really at fault here?
@@laurencefox5884 They vote false, and the become also the same if the get power. Every ordinary man can become a man with power and will moste likley change, the problem is thats just the nature of power (more or less)
Like will smith beating comedian
I feel so sorry for the people and families affected. Shocking way to handle business.
There is plenty of space for a man of his character and integrity on the Tory front bench,he would fit in very well.
No, we didn't consult the Unions because we know what the fine is for not doing that and it's worth it.
Exactly. It’s horrendous.
"And now I got a nice suit I got a nice car It's been a nice day Don't tell me that crime don't pay Okay " Joe Jackson
Fines must be increased to the level that just paying the fines isn't cheaper than doing the legal required things.
Exactly!!
@@troyhowling2497 A spell in chokey for the directors might focus their minds on abiding by the rules.
P&O have destroyed their brand. How can they take care of customers if they refuse to take care of their staff.
Agreed - I doubt they'll have many customers now. I certainly won't be getting on one of their boats any time soon. Other ferry companies are available.
@@celticcheetah6371 nor me
@@celticcheetah6371 Same here. I've been on a few P&IO ferries in the past and the staff were always great.
P&O for me are as dirty word in the same way I regard Russia.
@@Puddingtops funny that's how I think of America
I see how the Guardian smartly made the *main* video "5:50" long in line with the wage the P&O is trying to pay their staff. Unfortunately this is how vile some people are within the corporate world and unless the toxic culture of companies is tackled through intense vetting for those in leadership positions, this will persist.
Turns out 5.50 was a typo. It should have been 5.15.
This is why you want to have a unionised work force, so you can fight when companies try pulling stunts like this. People often complain about Underground staff/TfL staff for going on strikes, but it's their strikes that have protected their work conditions. It seems to be an ever growing trend for most companies to try get labour on the cheap. Teachers, Nurses, Retail workers, etc etc all need to fight for better rights.
@@lollateng191 An incredibly simplistic way of thinking there buddy
@@lollateng191 not everyone has the luxury of choice
Hey Abdul, better focus on your poverty infested beggary country
@@aconcernedcitizen6056 indians would be happy to take you job for 2x the wage less. why should I hire you?
@@georgeousthegorgeous because he isn't paying taxes in the uk (assuming you are talking about offshoring). The myopic greed of people like you will inevitably lead to the uk becoming an oligarchic nightmare.
Always makes me laugh when you get interviewed for a job at companies you are asked why you want to work for this company just saying " for the money" is not considered an acceptable answer.
that's because it's presumed
It is not acceptable for the regular interviewed. It is acceptable for those who never have to go through the interviewing process, they are simply offered the job in a way is hard to refuse. There's the hammer and there are the nails...
Indeed, it's very professional, but not accepted nevertheless
Any interviewer worth their salt would accept that as an adequate answer for "regular" employment, ie not CFO MD or some other high ranking position in a company. A person wants to work in exchange for money, big surprise, review their competency & personality/fit with the business
Because other company also offers money in exchange for labour. If it is only money you chase, why don't you just apply at other company? After all, they also offer money.
My blood is boiling watching this. The arrogance of this CEO is beyond breathtaking and this sham of a firm clearly don't care for the lives they've wrecked over this.
Agree, and I hope there is a legal recourse.
Aren't you glad we left the EU? Zero workers protections!
Absolutely beyond belief that they could think this was correct !!!
I actually predicted workers rights were gonna take a hit when we left the EU! What was it I said at the time? I'd rather be ruled over by bureaucrats in Brussels who make laws that apply to 27 EU nations than by the criminals in Parliament who are only interested in enriching themselves at the cost of the poorest in society!
Is he meant to run the company into the ground then say oh sorry lost ya job 🤔🤔🤦🤦🤦
Wow. The audacity with which those P&O officials try to excuse their deeply immoral and apparently criminal behavior… is just astounding 🙈
I know, right? Unbelievable
Why is white collar crime so readily acceptable? The CEOs need to be held accountable.
Chief Executive OFFENDER!! Shameless Criminal
i agree with that
It’s always revealing to see these “top men” forced to be publicly questioned…they have absolutely no remorse and no moral compass. Laws must be made that prevent business criminality.
Psychologists say that most of people in these top jobs are psycopaths/sociopaths, and it's entirely believable.
the 47 second video ''THE CORPORATION (6/23) The Pathology of Commerce.''
laws need to be passed to stop the criminality of the government first, but you see the conflict of interest there? its never going to happen under a conservative government...
@@paulhope3401 they are, it is known as a high functioning psycopath. Not physically violent perse, but a great hunger for power. You see these people a lot in political positions as well. Their inabillity to form proper emotional feelings such as remorse, shame or pity etc means that they have a clear advantage when it comes to position of power.
and useless and unworthy of ridiculous salaries.
It's actually laughable that the government are grilling him on his earnings and asking if he is a criminal. There are a vast amount of MPs that need to be asked these very same questions!
Vast number. At least learn proper English, please.
A vast number, please learn English. Your argument is a fallacy of whataboutism: _Whataboutism or whataboutery (as in "what about…?") is a variant of the tu quoque logical fallacy, which attempts to discredit an opponent's position by charging hypocrisy without directly refuting or disproving the argument_
@@desoliver9712 So what is your point? Do not raise the issue of hypocrisy? Remember, we are not in decision making positions, so how is this whataboutism?
He broke the law in a limited and specific way, lessons learnt from the UK government.
No government contracts. Maximum court appearances. If I was employed by this company I would leave as fast as I could. They have shown how valuable their staff are.
I’ve always said that your only a number and a hindrance to your employers
@@selwynowen6213 Your Right On That One , Just A Number & Nothing Else
Or move to France or Holland where all P&O workers are protected by EU minimum wage laws and are still employed!
Well blame the people that voted for Brexit....the Ferries are empty...Brexit reduced volume of passengers then Covid killed it off....these guys are Business men..not Social Workers...
@@TheMuzikall after Brexit the ferries between Ireland and the UK were always very busy. But it was the COVID lockdown was the killer for the ferry companies, as all movement was restricted by it.
"Are you just a shameless criminal?"....😂😂😂😂
A career psychopath!
It's hilarious, because the only other option was an incompetent CEO.
It was great to see everyone on the committee went right through him!
no sane person would think these actions are reasonable, they need to be psychologically evaluated.
Uhn, they know what they are doing full well. What they need is prison or a bullet.
Great points made by the committee. P&O should be ashamed of what they've done.
News flash they are not.
They are like Boris Johnson, no humility, no shame, just total arrogance and only sorry they got caught!
Haha! They'll take that shame and have a cry on their beds full of money.
No, they should not be ashamed, They should be put out of business and all levels of management should be tried for crimes against their staff!
But what if the company went under, would those 800 sacked staff worked for free until the business got back to its feet? Or they'll just have walked away and left p&o on its own devices?
They should ban P&O from docking in the UK.
@Marvi Wilson The Government can change it's laws.
@Marvi Wilson This govt can and has done! It’s not that long ago that the CEO of the govt was lying and obfuscating about whether he and his staff had done exactly that!
@Marvi Wilson really?? I thought Boris and his cronies did that during the lockdown of Covid
"We had to sack these workers or the company will go under" says the guy earning nearly 400k per year plus expenses and the company itself paying massive dividends to its shareholders. Righto.
"Are you in this mess because you don't know what you're doing or are you just a shameless criminal?" LOLOL
Basic salary 350k not including bonuses yet wants to pay his staff 1.80£ per hour ? If the company isn't sustainable then resign
5.50
@@owenhoong88 5.50 was the average, not the lowest
£350k is low for a CEO
@@davidphan100 millions in bonuses
@@davidphan100 £359k basic before bonuses.
If they dont have to offer the minimum UK legal wage why they are allowed to operate anymore in UK?
That was brutal, but the same applies to MPs all the way up to and including the PM... Q: Are you incompetent or a criminal? A: Both, actually.
**Average** rate of pay: £5.50. BBC reported today that the new employees were being paid minimum wage. In reality, they are being paid far below minimum wage.
Can I start with an apology. NO. You can start by explaining your actions .
P&O should lose their right to dock in the UK.
Just casually sacking 800 employees and just press restart on the whole thing, just to repeat that evil cycle.
He's on over 300k pa and expecting workers to live on less than Minimum Wage, constantly hiding behind international exchange rates. Despicable man and a despicable company.
You would like to think that not a decent minded person in the UK would ever book anything through P&O ever again and drive this abhorrent company from our waters.
We used to have a main public ferry provider called "Sealink" until Maggies Thatch "sold" it off to P&O for a fraction of it's value. Having used both before the give away of billions of Pounds of nationally tax financed assets P&O were the rusty scrap metal barely sea worthy boats where Sealink had the nice properly maintained vessels.
@@darthwiizius hi, it was sold to Sea Containers then to Stena, so company is still trading well. P&O had nothing to do with it.
Yes
@@darthwiizius and you paid more out of your taxes for it thatcher was for freedom freedom to trade freedom from overbearing taxes she saved people from paying for something they didn’t need
@@jodyqt thatcher was an unabashedly racist woman who should not be praised in her death. she made interesting strides in the economic sector but thatcherism is indirectly responsible for the above issue.
Just a criminal lock him up.
👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾
I have rarely seen a Select Committee so angry, nor such a feeble defence from those appearing before it.
For ANYONE watching . NOW you know why trade unions exist and why you need to join one if you work for a large company.
Tell all your customers not to use P&O!
Absolute disgrace!
It's business, people are just another resource, thats why companies have Human Resources Departments.
He is like a "soap opera villain"
The answer is YES!!! HE BROKE THE LAW!!!!! THE tories CONDONED THIS DISGUSTING AND DISGRACEFUL BEHAVIOUR!!!!!
I'll never book via P&O again out of disgust for treating their staff like this. Unfortunatley this happens a lot just cause P&O are big they got caught but there's loads of smaller businesses that do it regularly and get away with it
Will never use P&O again! Absolutely shocking!
I think a more accurate question would be "Do you actually have any control of your company or are you just a figurehead?"
He doesn't have any control. People with control are in Dubai.
If I were to admit to breaking the law I would expect to be arrested. The P&O CEO will carry in his extremely well paid job, why can't he be arrested and charged with something. He's admitted breaking the law!
There is an irony of politicians (usually on a minimum of 80,000) lecturing a slimeball CEO
... it's very much - The Blind Leading The Blind!
It's time to start dismantling corporations and sending these slimy ghouls to prison.
The CEO and every member of management involved in this process no matter how big or small the role should be behind bars in prison. Every day they are not is a shame to this country and our values.
Wrong. They have not done anything illegal, immoral yes. They used the a giant loophole in the law which conservatives thought should remain open because it benefits their chums.
If the penalty for a crime is a fine, then that law only exists for the lower classes
@@maigepresents5840I agree with you, they've not followed UK employment laws and should be held accountable, and as for the £5.00 odd new wages they should serve another few years behind bars. If they get away with this what does it say to other big companies.
Make him work in his own company for £5.50 an hour, might get a bit of flab off the lazy git. ?
@@maigepresents5840 Company law is called so for a reason. The company sacked the workers. Just like the workers the CEO is an employee of the company.
350k annually and access to 2 bonuses....shocking
" I'm not focused on my bonus, I'm focused on saving the business", yeah right, your bonus is all that matters to you at the moment.
This HAS to be the very first time these MPs have done what they were elected for. Great work - even if it doesn't balance-out the injustice
Of course he’ll take the bonus
I would too.
I can’t believe he even held this position within P&O. I worked under him at Greene King and he wasn’t qualified for that job. Awful boss
He's only apologising because he's in such a grimy mess! Also, how ironic it's MPs who are asking the questions, people themselves with such a shocking reputation!
He said 5.50 is the average! The average! You can imagine where the lowest wage is. It's a shame, these men are criminals.
1.80 is the lowest wage.
@@RealityDysfunction Exactly; I came here to make the same comment...
Take P&O off! Replace it with a new company!!!
If these criminals don't end up behind bars in the next week it's a clear statement that the law doesn't apply in this country if you're rich enough... just that simple.
If a company can't pay ALL their employees minimum wage then close it down, it's not a viable business.
I'll tell you what they are, they are shameless criminals 100% absolutely disgusting, he deserves prison.
💯 steven it's pure GREED cheap labour
My Response would be all those who replaced employees with P&O ferries are here by refused entry into UK.
Actually all those who are replacing employees are agency staff hired by agencies. They have to have the right to work in the UK, the agency has to check their documents, but with regards to wages P&O gets round it by saying our ships are registered in another country so we abide by their employment laws. Agency staff can be dismissed before 12 weeks is up, so they won't get holiday or sick pay
5.50 an hour…. Even here this person has the audacity to fall back on international laws… absolute shameful
"Are you in this mess because you don't know what you're doing. Or are you just a shameless criminal" Brilliant 😂😂😂😂
'You can't just absent yourself from the laws of the UK'. It's cheaper. Watch us.
never ever use that firm, thats the answer.
The thing is this is happening in every big company at every level. Oil and gas especially!!
That's 1 of the reasons I left the UK in 2018 after 9yrs living there.... very poor working conditions, very poor employee rights, very low pay , no max hrs/week rights..no powerful unions
He intentionally broke laws ! He should be held in custody and possibly imprisoned after a trial, corporate misconduct should not be used as a defence, he is top of the pile so he personally should be held responsible !
Why in custody..there is a presumptive right to bail in UK
Yeh, except the penalty is a fine.
@@vanpallandt5799 I'd suggest he's a flight risk.
@@rdouthwaite definitely a boat risk
@@rdouthwaite why
Vote with your feet - don't use P&O in the future!!
This chairman is an absolute crusader, I respect him a lot
What a disgusting spectacle from a “CEO” on such an obscene salary! Hard to believe he is so entitled!
this guy broke the law 800 times. should be sent to jail.
£5.15 an hr I'd expect a coffee cost more than the person serving it Disgusting
Still thinking of all the fire and rehire gone on over the last couple of years - British Gas, public transport etc - and how they got away with it, even with protests. As a population, we are going to have to stand taller, shout louder, for our fellow workers, whether in the same industry or not.
lol P&O sack 800 staff and employ 5 Quid labour but their fares are exactly the same, GREED!!
This guy is probably going to get rewarded with a seat in the house of Lords or a knighthood The tories thinking "why didn't we think of that? This guy is s genius."
Right on the button with that one!
It beggars belief. But it's true.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
The brazenness of these lowlifes is incredible... they actually admit all the crimes they have committed but are still happy to dismiss 800 staff just like that knowing fully that its illegal!!
Yes and then ummm and ahhh as to whether he’ll take his bonus! Beggars belief.
Reminds me of that Penelope woman who stabbed her husband and demonstrated some odd egotistical defiance when confronted with what she had done.
Cruise ship companies have made massive losses with COVID, obviously that would mean job cuts to the lower skilled since there is less demand for cruises and thus the manual labor hours that go with it. Not sure why everyone is upset
@@yt_nh9347 .................what?
That opening line honestly went hard. I cackled.
I love this, but it makes me angry as well because you never see such vigorous questioning when it's politicians up there.
They can rant at P & O all they like but the clause added to UK law was brought in by Chris Grayling to allow maritime companies operating in UK waters to do this. If you voted for Brexit to free us from Europe, P &O are using one of the freedoms you voted for. The EU parliament is a coalition so tends to protect working class and low paid workers more effectively than a Tory government ever will.
Here’s an important notice, never use p and o again ever.
Any person that now books with P&O ferries should be locked up, As an accessory to a crime, Because what P&O have done and are doing is criminal!
At this stage we are receiving no benefit from this company either locally or nationally. I propose the government withdraw their license to operate in the UK if this decision is not reversed. If they refuse what would we have to loose anyway?
This CEO comes across as a truly vile man . Let’s hope P&O go under due to his actions .
Yer let's hope everyone else who works at P&O looses their job eh? Seriously, the amount of dumb in this comments section is staggering.
Will never travel on a p&o ship ever again cant see the French putting up with it on Brittany ferries
Same here
How low has this company stooped? I’ve rarely seen such arrogance. The laughable thing about this is is that British Airways are trying to hoover up the redundant staff, the same British Airways that shafted thousands of its staff in the same way during the pandemic. Another appalling employer.
Society needs to rethink the power and purpose of corporations.
I applaud the governing board with their direct questions to the CEO and leaders of P&O. They went all out as they should. It’s the lives of 800 or so hard working people, we are talking about. £5 something an hour?! Are you blo ody kidding me?
I used to get that in a garden centre when I was 18. I'm 52.
Irish ferries did it in the 2000s. Entirely within the law. It’s been happening in the shipping industry for decades. The only way to have a career at sea in Ireland now is to join the Navy.
@@Whatshisname346 Now they do it with poles.
Pretty much sums up the country as a whole tbh . Look at the shame of working people having to go to food banks . Honestly I've given up on humanity .
i agree
Agree
workers pay for their stupidity, lack of education and useless morals. you need to always be the best, always learn and adapt and be able to backstab and do everything for yourself
This reminds me of Irish Ferries some years ago. They were in a dire financial situation, like P&O now. Employees were presented with an unliveable new contract, that was minimum wage and no benefits. New contract staff were willing to accept the worst possible terms. A win for nobody except the bosses and shareholders. More forced onto the breadline
To be fair though, when "normal" people then go looking which ferries to choose the overarching price becomes a consideration. Low budget providers are profitable on a large scale, precisely because they over a service at the lowest cost to a consumer.
The Union should make an urgent application to the High Court to set aside this redundancy action pending the hearing of evidence about the company's economic rationale and the notice and consultation duties of the company. Let the High Court manage the redundancy for a just and fair outcome!
Sounds like they weren't up to the job of running a company. Their stupidity has tainted it.
In the light of history, it might have been better for P&O to have liquidated their unprofitable business.
You know unprofitable is a euphemism for not possible to pay the board salaries over 5 figures!
I'm not sure how the directors can hide behind the corporate veil here. On the face of it there appears to be serious criminality and culpability at the individual leadership level.