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Workers who have just been sacked by ferry company P&O are blocking a road leading to the Port of Dover in protest.

Some crew are defying orders and refusing to leave their ships in a sit-protest after the brutal mass lay offs of 800 people this morning.

Others who lost their jobs stood on the road leading to the Kent port holding banners and flags saying ‘Stop the P&O jobs carve up’.

Footage obtained by BBC News showed staff being told over Zoom that their last day of employment would be ‘today’ and cheaper agency workers would be hired to replace them.

As shocked employees made their way home, buses carrying the new members of staff appeared to arrive at the Kent port.

Defiant staff then began chanting ‘support local jobs’ and blocking the road.

A lorry driver trying to enter the port began shouting and beeping at the protesters who told him: ‘We’re not moving.’

Police officers then attended the scene close to the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union office in Dover.

One of the protesters, who had worked for the company for decades, said: ‘I refuse to move from this road. All this service for nothing.

‘The police will have to take me away.’

A 54-year-old man, who has worked in ferry engine rooms since the 1980s, said: ‘I’m fuming, to be honest with you. I’ve known people who’ve been with the firm for years – this is no way to treat people.

‘It was just a short message this morning saying you’ve all lost a job, basically – all this service for nothing.

‘I’ve seen coachloads of agency crews waiting in the car park at Hyde services, just waiting to come down – it’s as simple as that.

‘There’s going to be a protest here. One of the union guys just said if there’s no-one working to come along and support.’

RMT national secretary Darren Procter said: ‘These people lost their jobs this morning via a Teams meeting. It’s a disgrace, frankly, and this demonstration is a reflection of the anger we all feel.’

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