Carnival UK Faces Backlash Over Threat of Fire and Rehire for Crew Members

Carnival UK, a major cruise ship operator, has come under fire for threatening to fire and rehire more than 900 crew members if they do not accept reduced terms and conditions. The Nautilus union has reported that the company has notified authorities in the UK and Bermuda of its intention to change employment terms for 919 crew members across 10 vessels, including those working on P&O Cruises and Cunard ships such as the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2.

The union has called for Carnival UK to withdraw the threat of fire and rehire and engage in meaningful negotiations. This comes in the wake of a similar dispute involving P&O Ferries, a separate company from P&O Cruises, which faced a dispute over the sacking of hundreds of workers in March 2022. Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh has criticized the government for not taking action to prevent these practices, stating that “the lives of hundreds more seafarers are once again being upended by bad bosses who know they can get away with it.”

The Nautilus union has accused Carnival UK of threatening its crew with being fired and rehired if they do not accept reduced terms and conditions. This has sparked criticism from politicians and calls for the government to intervene and end the practice of fire and rehire for good. The dispute comes in the wake of a similar situation involving P&O Ferries, with the shadow transport secretary condemning the company’s actions and criticizing the government for not taking action to prevent such practices.

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