(qlmbusinessnews.com Fri, 24th Nov, 2023) London, UK —
Labour Turmoil Rocks Carnival UK as ‘Fire and Rehire' Allegations Spark Union Backlash
Carnival UK, the parent company of renowned cruise liners P&O Cruises and Cunard, is facing allegations of a controversial “fire and rehire” strategy that could impact more than 900 staff members. The company reportedly informed authorities about the plan shortly after commencing discussions with union representatives.
The Nautilus union, representing maritime professionals, contends that the move indicates Carnival UK's lack of genuine intent to engage in constructive negotiations. Carnival UK, however, asserts that it is not implementing any redundancies and firmly denies engaging in “fire and rehire” practices. The accusations come in the wake of a previous dispute involving P&O Ferries, another entity under the Carnival umbrella, which terminated 800 workers without notice and replaced them with foreign agency workers earning below the UK minimum wage.
Nautilus reports that Carnival UK has formally notified authorities in the UK and Bermuda about its intent to alter employment terms and conditions for 919 crew members across 10 vessels, impacting personnel on P&O Cruises and iconic ships such as the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary 2.
The union references Form HR1, a document outlining redundancy plans, stating that Carnival UK's notification occurred on November 22, several days into negotiations that began on November 14. According to Nautilus, Carnival UK's communication indicated that “dismissal and re-engagement may be considered if agreement cannot be reached on new terms,” suggesting a lack of commitment to meaningful negotiation.
Carnival UK rebuts these claims, emphasizing that it has not initiated redundancies and is not pursuing “fire and rehire” tactics. The company asserts that its focus is on an annual pay review process for maritime officers, aiming to align and enhance teams across its fleet.
However, Nautilus argues that Carnival UK is essentially seeking a 20% reduction in working days, translating to a decrease from 243 to 200 days worked per year and a corresponding income drop. The changes are portrayed as non-negotiable, leading to discontent among members who feel the company is removing flexibility in work schedules.
In response, Nautilus has called for Carnival UK to withdraw the “fire and rehire” threat and engage in genuine negotiations. Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh criticizes the recurrence of such employment disputes, urging the government to address flaws in employment laws.
Garry Elliot, Nautilus's senior national organizer, calls on the government to learn from past incidents and prohibit the coercive practice of “fire and rehire.” He asserts that employers should not be allowed to treat employees with contempt and manipulate their livelihoods through fundamental changes to terms and conditions.
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