After 24 hours in a state of disbelief, more fired P&O employees begin to speak out about what happened yesterday.
Giving their full names or showing their face jeopardizes their future employment. But they are angry, upset and shocked at their treatment.
Noah, not his real name, tells us that yesterday he and his colleagues were treated like criminals.
“There were guards in the duty free area like we were about to break in,” he told the BBC.
“They thought we were going to go in and help ourselves. What we wouldn’t have done. They guarded it,” he said.
“It could have been handled better. It was intimidating, it made people angry and we were intimidated by their presence there,” he added.
Staff who lost their jobs yesterday were told not to speak to the media. They were offered enhanced redundancy packages with certain conditions. It is understood that speaking to the media breaks these terms, which will result in them forfeiting these payments.
Yesterday P&O said it was a “tough” decision to lay off 800 employees but without the changes it would “not be a viable business”.
The government has said it is looking “very closely” at the measures P&O has taken to see if they have broken any laws, No10 has confirmed.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said after they completed their inquiry “we will decide what the implications are”.
He added that there are “many valid questions about existing contracts” that the government has with the company after laying off 800 workers
Noah said: “They gave an extended layoff package. But you need to find an attorney to act on your behalf, and I did that. Once I’ve progressed to that, I’ll have to notify the company that I’ve hired someone.”
In the last 24 hours since we arrived in Dover we have spoken to many people who are too scared to talk about it. You are upset. But they are also outraged.
Noah wanted to tell us how it was yesterday.
“We looked out the window at all these people in green coats on the quay. We had to wait on the ship. Remember, we’re all sensible adults on the ship. There was no point in hosting a sit-in — it wouldn’t solve anything. When we were told what had happened, we packed up and awaited instructions on how to exit.
“There were security personnel on the ship who were obnoxious and rude and really treated like criminals to be honest. The sort you would probably see in a borstal. It wasn’t pleasant. They were brought extra and were not pleasant. “
Everyone knows someone here in Dover. Taxi drivers bring people home from the ships. The bars on the Esplanade are full of seafaring relatives.
“I’m devastated, it was our last day at work. There had been several layoffs at the company during Covid so I didn’t expect this one to come.
“[To see] everyone will be unemployed at once and everyone will disembark and then go home.
Noah said that given his age he was optimistic of finding work in his industry in the future but could not take on an agency role for P&O Ferries. “They have already organized crews for the ships so can’t see there being any vacancies any time soon.
“I enjoyed my job and dealing with customers. It’s the only industry I know of.
“It stopped me from working for P&O but I still have to pay my bills at the end of the day,” he added.
There is anger here at the protest in Dover. Workers hide from cameras because they don’t want to be seen.
Her friends walk by her side. They told us that they had to come to the port to pick them up yesterday as they were disembarking bin bags filled with their belongings from the ships. Some had to leave family photos in their cabins on board as they didn’t have enough luggage.
The unions at the protest want action. They see this as a call to action for Kier Starmer and the Labor Party to stand up for workers. RMT says they spoke to Mr Starmer this morning. They say he said the right things – now, they say, they want exercise.
Noah needs time. The change is sudden and enormous.
“I’m not yet aware that I’m not here. It will take time to get used to not working. I’ve worked all my life. I have never used welfare or government benefits in my life.”
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