P&O Cruises and Cunard threaten to fire and rehire more than 900 UK staff

If over 900 UK-based crew members do not accept pay reductions and more flexible work schedules, P&O Cruises and Cunard have threatened to fire and rehire them.

Officers aboard nine additional ships run by Carnival UK, a division of the $18 billion Carnival group, as well as the British flagship, the opulent ocean liner Queen Mary 2, are among the affected crew members. According to Carnival UK, the company is significantly increasing its headcount across its fleet and is not making any layoffs.

Across the 10 cruise ships in Carnival UK’s and Cunard’s fleet, a total of 919 professional, managerial, and technical employees risk termination in early 2024 if they do not accept terms and conditions that could result in a 20% reduction in their yearly pay. The maritime professionals’ union, Nautilus International, is standing by its impacted members and urging the UK government to take a cue from P&O Ferries and ban the coercive practise of fire and rehire.