Easter holiday CHAOS as UK Border Force officers set to strike at Heathrow

The PCS trade union said the strikes are part of a dispute over working conditions.

The officers, who carry out immigration controls and passport checks on behalf of Britain’s Home Office, or interior ministry, voted to take strike action last week over a new roster and changes to shift patterns.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Ministers have fourteen days to withdraw these unfair and unnecessary proposals or our members at Heathrow will take strike action.

“Consultation with staff has been a farce, with our members having little or no choice about the new arrangements.

“Ripping up flexible working arrangements is no way to treat staff especially, as the Government says, their work is critical to our nation’s security. Some members are heartbroken that the Border Force has become ‘unprofessional and inhumane’.

“If the Government is serious about border security, it should look at Border Force officers’ job security, look after its staff, scrap the changes and work with us to protect jobs and working conditions.”

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A PCS spokesperson said union members at Heathrow Airport voted by 90 per cent to walk out over a new roster and imposed changes to shift patterns.

The added changes could see as many as 250 staff forced out of their jobs by the end of April and will particularly affect workers with disabilities or those with caring responsibilities.

A Home Office spokesperson told BBC News: “As the public would expect, our priority is to keep our citizens safe and our borders secure. We are working closely with Heathrow Airport and have robust plans in place to minimise any delays from planned strike action.

The spokesperson added: “We will deploy suitable resources to meet critical demand and support the flow of passengers and goods through our border.”

GB News has approached Heathrow Airport for a comment.