Government examining legality of P&O sackings as Archbishop of Canterbury condemns ‘inhumane and unethical’ move – business live | Business

The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, have condemned the sacking of 800 P&O Ferries workers yesterday as inhumane and completely unethical.

In a joint statement, they say ill-treating workers is a sin in God’s eyes, and that yesterday’s ‘extraordinary move’ is cynically timed, when the world’s attention is on the Ukraine war.

They also urge the government to prevent P&O from operating until a proper consultation with independent oversight has been carried out, and to make ‘urgent and forceful representations’ to Dubai.

Dover must receive extraordinary financial and development assistance if the sackings cannot be legally stopped, they add.

Here’s the statement in full:

P&O: Joint statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Dover

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” – Amos 5:24

Ill-treating workers is not just business. In God’s eyes it is sin.

P&O has sacked 800 people in Dover, a town dependent on shipping. Dover is a major part of the Diocese of Canterbury which we serve as Bishops.

The extraordinary move is at the command of DP World, the Dubai based and owned parent company, which made record profits last year. The move is cynically timed for a moment when world attention is on Ukraine. Done without warning or consultation it is inhumane, treats human beings as a commodity of no basic value or dignity and is completely unethical.

We call on Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, to prevent P&O operating until proper consultation has been carried out. Consultation will have to be done with independent oversight as all confidence in P&O management is gone. We call on the UK Government to make urgent and forceful representations to the Government of Dubai, a historic and close ally of the UK.

It is essential that if this move cannot be prevented legally that Dover receive extraordinary financial and development assistance.