Carnival UK reversed its decision to fire and rehire more than 900 UK officers from P&O Cruises and Cunard, following negotiations with Nautilus, the union representing the affected maritime professionals. The announcement comes just days after The Guardian exposed the plans to make substantial changes to the terms and conditions of its officers across 10 UK-based ships.
Carnival UK had initially faced widespread backlash after it was revealed that 919 officers, including professional, managerial, and technical staff, were at risk of dismissal in early 2024 unless they accepted alterations that could potentially slash their annual earnings by up to 20%.
The Nautilus International and Carnival UK joint statement, released after talks on Friday, expressed the commitment of both parties to engage in "meaningful consultation" to find a resolution. The statement clarified that Carnival UK had withdrawn the HR1 form, a document that had sparked concerns among the officers and had been submitted to the insolvency service.
The statement read, "Nautilus International and Carnival UK are able to confirm, following joint discussions held this afternoon, that both parties are committed to engaging in meaningful consultation in finding a way forward following the start of consultation on proposed contractual changes for 919 maritime professionals."
The statement highlighted Carnival UK's reassurance to Nautilus International, stating, "Carnival UK has reassured Nautilus International of there being no intent to undertake steps towards dismissal and re-engagement, and have rescinded the HR1 form submitted to the insolvency service, while providing an update to the relevant Bermudan authorities."
The resolution of this dispute was welcomed by both the union and the company, with both sides working towards a negotiated settlement that aims to address the concerns of all parties involved.
The maritime community, now relieved by the reversal of the dismissal threat, watches closely as discussions progress towards a mutually beneficial settlement between Carnival UK and Nautilus International.
