The UK's maritime union expresses concern over Carnival Corporation's potential "fire and rehire" strategy affecting 900+ cruise ship crewmembers serving its UK-based subsidiaries Cunard and P&O Cruises.
The management company Carnival UK denies seeking to reduce manning levels, stating it's part of a routine realignment of employment agreements.
Fleet Maritime Services, Carnival's subsidiary, initiates a consultation process, filing an HR1 form on November 15th. The proposed changes in working days and arrangements impact 919 crewmembers on P&O and Cunard ships.
The company asserts no proposed redundancies but mentions dismissal and re-engagement if new terms aren't agreed upon.
Nautilus International urges meaningful negotiations, recalling the P&O Ferries incident in March 2022.
Carnival UK claims it's an annual pay review process and emphasizes recent employment growth due to additional ships.
Despite the consultation's initiation, Cunard and P&O anticipate no changes before 2024, aligning with the cruise industry's recovery amid increased occupancy and bookings.
Carnival Corporation aims to enhance financial performance through cost control measures following pandemic challenges.