Outrage over P&O Ferries owner’s freeport role

The TUC has described as “appalling” a decision to allow DP World, the owner of P&O Ferries, to co-run the Thames Freeport in Essex – just a year after the ship operator illegally sacked 800 workers (see previous issues). The port will now receive £25 million.

“Ministers should have stripped the company of all its public contracts and severed commercial ties,” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak commented.

“But the government has chosen instead to reward DP World with another bumper deal. This is giving a green light to other rogue employers to act with impunity.”