London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Feb 06, 2025

Border Force staff at airports to strike over Christmas

Border Force staff at airports to strike over Christmas

Border Force staff are going on strike for eight days over Christmas at Heathrow, Gatwick and several other airports, the PCS union has announced.

About 75% of passport control staff are PCS members - and Heathrow has warned checks may take longer on strike days.

Thousands of other civil servants - including driving test examiners - will also be taking industrial action.

PCS boss Mark Serwotka said the strikes would "escalate" unless the government "put money on the table now".

Strikes at the Department for Work and Pensions and the Highways Agency have already been announced.

Mr Serwotka said that PCS members had "no option" but to strike, because they were "currently skipping meals, not being able to put the heating on at home because of the poverty they are living in".

The PCS general secretary has had talks with government ministers, but he said they were refusing to increase a 2% pay rise.

"They keep saying their door is open, but it is a very strange door because there's nothing behind it," he told a news conference.

About 1,000 Border Force staff are expected to walk out on eight days between 23 December and New Year's Eve at Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Gatwick, Heathrow (terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5) and Manchester airports, as well as at the port of Newhaven.

Christmas is a very busy time at airports and the strikes are likely to lead to longer queues at passport control.

In all, 86% of PCS balloted members voted in favour of strike action across 124 government departments and public sector employers.


What should I do if I'm travelling over Christmas?


*  Airports have advised travellers to check the status of their flights before travelling

*  The Home Office has said passport checks may take longer on strike days

*  The strikes are likely to affect people returning to the UK rather than departing

*  The length of delays will depend on how well the Home Office can fill the staffing gaps

*  If your flight is cancelled due to strike action, airlines must offer rebooking or a refund

Mr Serwotka warned the government against bringing in the military to cover for the strikes, saying there was not enough time to train them properly.

And he said the PCS would escalate industrial action in the New Year unless the deadlock was broken.

The strikes were "part of a targeted and sustained programme of industrial action that is designed to escalate each week unless the government is prepared to put money on the table now to deal with the poverty of its own workforce", he added.

Traffic officers at the National Highways Agency will take part in five weeks of rolling strikes across the country, with five of the strike days co-ordinated to coincide with the RMT's planned railway strikes.

Staff at the Rural Payments Agency, which deals with farmers, are also joining the industrial action.

A Home Office spokesperson said "passengers should be prepared for potential disruption".

"We will deploy suitable resource to meet critical demand and support the flow of passengers and goods through our border."

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Our priority is to ensure passengers get through the border safely and as quickly as possible.

"We are working closely with airlines and Border Force on mitigation plans for potential strike action by Border Force officers and these plans will now be implemented for the notified days.

"The Home Office advises that immigration and customs checks may take longer during peak times on strike days, and Heathrow will support Border Force to minimise these impacts with the aim of processing passengers through the border as efficiently as possible.

"Passengers are advised to check their flight status with their airline before travelling. We encourage all parties to resolve this dispute quickly."

The airport pointed out that the workers involved in the strikes were employed by the Home Office, not Heathrow.

A spokesperson for Gatwick said the airport was "disappointed" that Border Force staff had decided to take strike action and hoped that a settlement could be found "as quickly as possible".

"We expect that flights will operate as normal and remain in regular contact with Border Force about their mitigation plans. Additional airport staff will also be made available to help with passenger welfare on strike days," the spokesperson added.

Consumer group Which? said the Border Force strikes will be "a huge worry to travellers, with thousands now anxious as to whether their Christmas plans could be left in ruins if flights are cancelled as a result".

"Airlines affected should work quickly to inform passengers of any potential changes to their booking because of strike action, and must not fail in their legal responsibility to offer travellers a refund or the option to be rebooked, including with other airlines if necessary," said Guy Hobbs, editor of Which? Travel.

There is a growing wave of industrial action in December as ambulance and healthcare workers prepare to join rail workers in striking over pay and conditions as the cost of living soars.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday that he would bring in "new tough laws" to curb the impact of strikes as he criticised "unreasonable" union chiefs.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Transgender Athletes from Competing in Women's Sports
Intense Pressure Builds for a Free Trade Agreement Between the UK and GCC in Light of Economic Difficulties
UAE Aids in the Transfer of 300 Prisoners Between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump Suggests U.S. 'Takeover' of Gaza, Sparking Global Worries
At least ten fatalities reported in Swedish school shooting, authorities confirm.
EU Reveals Significant Advances on Special Tribunal for Prosecuting Vladimir Putin
Trump Administration Preparing Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education
Trump's Gaza Plan Provokes Global Debate
Spain Endorses Initiative to Cut Working Week to 37.5 Hours
Australia Prohibits DeepSeek AI on Government Devices Due to Security Issues
Trump Warns of Tariffs on EU Products, Labels Bloc an 'Atrocity' in Trade Matters
Zelenskyy Proposes Nuclear Arsenal if NATO Membership Lingers.
Zelenskyy Urges for 'Robust Security Assurances' from Russia to Conclude the Conflict in Ukraine
European Union Proposes Reforms to 1951 Refugee Convention
China's humanoid robots poised to transform everyday living and spiritual functions.
Changes in US tariffs on Chinese products could affect consumers more significantly than they do China.
How Innovations in China's Humanoid Robots Ignite Fierce Competition with the US
Germany Experiences 34% Decrease in Asylum Applications During Migration Discussion
Experts Challenge Conviction of UK Nurse Lucy Letby for Baby Killings
AfD Chief Alice Weidel Enhances Global Standing Through Meeting with Viktor Orban
Nigel Farage's Reform UK Party Leads Poll Amid Growing Public Demand for Change
Conor Murphy Steps Down as Northern Ireland Economy Minister to Join Irish Parliament
Over 1 Million Face Penalties After Missing HMRC Self-Assessment Tax Deadline
Scottish Government Denies Plans to Ban Cat Ownership Amid Controversy
Bridget Phillipson Urges Parents to Prioritize School Attendance Amid Rising Absence Rates
Keir Starmer Advocates for Stronger UK-EU Security Partnership in Brussels
Six English Councils Granted Permission to Raise Council Tax Bills Above Cap Amid Financial Struggles
Keir Starmer Faces Growing Backlash Over Potential Approval of Rosebank Oilfield
AI Consciousness Raises Ethical Concerns, Say Experts
Families Urge NHS England to Release Full Report on Nottingham Triple Homicide
NHS Initiates Largest AI Trial for Breast Cancer Detection
UK Tightens Regulations on Online Sales of Weight-Loss Injections
Gambling Ads Shown to Parents on Baby Monitor App, Raising Concerns
Ancient Irish Rainforests at Risk Due to the Growth of Monoculture Plantations
EU Leaders Deliberate on Defense Strategy Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
EU Leaders Convene Important Summit on Defense in Response to Rising Tensions
Trump Directs Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, Considers TikTok Purchase
Britain Considers U.S. Gas Imports in Response to Possible Trump Tariffs
French Prime Minister Bayrou Confronts Several No-Confidence Votes Regarding the 2025 Budget
Shutdown of USAID Headquarters in Light of U.S. Government Reduction Initiatives
President Trump Launches Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund with Possible TikTok Purchase
Investigation Launched Following Viral Video of Bodybuilder's Airport Prank
Cooling Blankets: A Remedy for Those Who Sleep Hot or Just a Marketing Ploy?
Trump Wins Again as Canada Agrees to Strengthen Border Security
Trump Seeks Rare Minerals from Ukraine in Exchange for U.S. Support
EU Leaders Reach Consensus to Increase Defence Expenditure in Response to Growing Security Threats
UK Business Confidence Declines Amid Economic Uncertainty, Lloyds Survey Shows
Abhishek Sharma's Century Secures India a 4-1 T20 Series Win Over England
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for talks at Chequers.
Australian soccer sensation Sam Kerr confronts a racial abuse trial in London.
×