CONSERVATIVE leaders of Thurrock Council have condemned the actions of DP World, owners of P&O Ferries, which this week sacked 800 workers without notice.

P&O claimed it had to take action to replace the 800 workers with cheaper third party contract workers, claiming it is "not a viable business" in its current mode.

P&O Ferries was bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019, which has covered £100m losses "year on year", according to a spokesperson. "This is not sustainable", they added.

DP World owns and runs the London Gateway port on the Thames in Thurrock and P&O run a twice daily freight roll-on, roll-off service from Tilbury to Zeebrugge. Though services on that service have not been interrupted by P&O's actions, while services elsewhere have been suspended, it is not clear if staffing changes will happen on its two ships, Norstar and Norstream, on the route.

DP World are also major players in the recently created Thames Freeport which includes London Gateway port and the neighbouring Port of Tilbury and Tilbury2 port, where the P&O ferry service sails from.

Thurrock Council's ruling cabinet met over this weekend to discuss the actions of P&O Ferries and DP World, and their involvement in the Thames Freeport.

In a statement its members condemned the appalling and entirely unjustifiable actions of P&O Ferries which has led to 800 employees losing their jobs.

The cabinet is already due to meet on Wednesday, 23 March to discuss governance arrangements around the Thames Freeport, of which DP World is one of three private sector lead organisation partners with the council.  

Ahead of this meeting the council has announced that council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill, fully supported and endorsed by all cabinet colleagues, will be making the council's robust view known directly to DP World about its concerns regarding this matter.

Cllr Gledhill said: "I will be making it very clear to DP World that all options regarding the potential outcomes and ongoing discussions for the Thames Freeport governance remain firmly on the table.  

"Whilst the full business case has been submitted to government, the matter is not concluded in terms of significant governance matters.  

"Unlike other applications, the Thames Freeport is a combination of a number of councils and lead businesses.

"Thurrock Council will be seeking unequivocal assurances that ensure that all employment in this borough and across Thames Freeport is undertaken with full regard to all UK employment law and that any private sector organisation who is a partner in the Thames Freeport categorically complies.

"We will do all we can to make the Freeport happen to benefit local residents, businesses and the country as a whole. However, it will not be at the expense of the rights of British workers up and down the country now or in the future.

One man who is well known in Thurrock is Xavier Woodward, founder of communications consultancy InfraComms and a former head of marketing at DP World London Gateway where he worked for several years. He was responsible for forging links with the government.

He recalls that when the group signed a £400mn contract to build the terminal in 2008 it was defying expectations that it would withdraw from British infrastructure investment.

"They are not afraid of taking tough, brave decisions," he said. "If you talk about ambitious, there was a saying in the company that the sky was not the limit."