A cross channel ferry company in Dover has been accused of using coronavirus to attack the contracts of some of its staff.

In a letter to employees yesterday, P&O Ferries chief executive Janette Bell said all areas of the business were undergoing cost reviews which has sparked job loss fears throughout the workforce.

The document, seen by Kentonline, said the week-on-week-off shift pattern where some staff live on board for seven days, is in the balance. Other options on the table include a review of roles at the company's base, Channel House, and at board level.

A ferry worker, who does not want to be named, said: "P&O have been trying to get rid of people on the old contracts because they get paid a lot more which they couldn’t do because the RMT soon put a stop to it.

"Now the company is saying you either sign a new contract and take a pay cut or they are going to have to pay people off to save money.

"They are using these worrying times as an excuse to do what they have wanted to do for years without getting in trouble or (being) made to look bad."

It comes after the Dover-Calais travel firm furloughed 1100 staff on full pay last Thursday from across Deal, Folkestone and other East Kent towns - utilising the government's job retention scheme to cover 80% of the wage bill for those stood down.

They then announced they were operating a reduced freight-only schedule until May.

Today they said the main objective of the "drastic" measures is to protect jobs and the viability of the business.

According to the crew member, who has worked for the firm for seven years, it will be "impossible" for crew who live in other counties to continue working for the firm if the week-on-week-off option is stopped.

He said: "For people outside of Kent it’s impossible for them to travel to and from work everyday. But that’s what they want - to push them out as most of the people on old contracts live on the ships and do not live in Kent.

"They are using the virus as an excuse to get rid of the hard working loyal crew who have been there years just to save a few pounds."

"The union will not allow P&O to attack the terms and conditions of our members..."

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said: "In these extremely challenging and unprecedented times, our foremost priority is maintaining the continued flow of goods between the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe to avoid disruption.

"P&O Ferries transports around 15% of all goods into and out of the United Kingdom, including food and vital medical supplies and we are determined to continue operating over the period of the Covid-19 outbreak and beyond.

"Due to a considerable shortfall in revenue caused by this crisis and the poor economic outlook over the months ahead, we have no choice but to start negotiations with unions to look at saving money.

"Our main objective is to protect jobs and the viability of the business, but without securing the changes we have requested, we will be forced to consider much more drastic reform or cease operating completely.

"We are working hard to secure an agreement that safeguards jobs and the viability of the business, so we can keep goods flowing."

Mick Cash from the RMT said: "RMT has been fighting hard over the lack of safety provisions on-board these ships and the union will not allow P&O to attack the terms and conditions of our members, or alter working practices in a way that will clearly jeopardise the safety of crew and passengers alike.

"RMT has been lobbying government for the financial support the maritime industry needs at this time to protect jobs and safety during this crisis and it is the national interest of the government to recognise the importance of seafarers and give those assurances."

In her letter to staff Ms Bell admitted now is an "unsettling period of uncertainty" but money saving is essential to stop the firm going out of business.

She said the reshape needs to leave the company at the right size, operating with the right numbers of people with the right skills.

They will also be addressing "the issue of inflexible labour at Europoort".

She added: "The truth is nobody is going to bail us out, and any bills deferred now or any loans that we take will have to be paid in the future. This is why we need to find permanent savings now."

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