Fears for hundreds of jobs at P&O rival

Danish ferry firm demands ‘level playing field’ over seafarers’ pay

- CHRIS McLAUGHLIN

THE P&O mass sackings scandal has sparked a “race to the bottom” among ferry operators and put many more British jobs at risk, union leaders have warned.

Yesterday, it emerged a second firm could also sack its crew and replace them with cheaper agency workers if Boris Johnson fails to block P&O’s sudden dismissal of 800 staff.

DFDS, which employs 2,700 crew members, lorry drivers and office staff in the UK, has told Transport Secretary Grant Shapps it will be unable to compete if P&O’s move to pay wages as low as £5.50 an hour is not overturned.

The Danish firm has called for a “level playing field” so it can avoid sacking UK staff on its cross-Channel services and bringing in overseas workers on rates below the minimum wage.