Carnival UK refutes claims of planning to use fire-and-rehire tactics against crew members

A cruise ship operator, Carnival UK, has been accused by the Nautilus union of planning to change the terms and conditions of employment for 919 crew members across 10 of its vessels, including P&O Cruises and Cunard. The union claims that the company has threatened to fire and rehire the crew if they do not accept reduced terms. However, Carnival UK has strongly denied these claims, stating that they are not making any redundancies and have actually increased their headcount across their fleet. They argue that the changes are part of an annual pay review process to ensure alignment and attract and retain talent.

The TUC general secretary, Paul Nowak, has criticized the government for not taking action to prevent such treatment of workers, especially in light of the P&O Ferries scandal last year, where 800 staff were abruptly sacked. He accuses the Conservatives of failing to strengthen employment law and protect workers’ rights. This situation has raised concerns about the treatment of workers in the maritime industry and the need for stronger regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The dispute between Carnival UK and the Nautilus union has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by workers in the maritime industry, particularly in relation to changes in employment terms and conditions. The company’s denial of the claims and the union’s accusations have sparked criticism of the government for failing to protect workers’ rights, especially in the wake of previous incidents involving mass dismissals. This episode has underscored the need for stronger regulations and safeguards to prevent unfair treatment of workers in the industry.

Source .