Border Force staff at Heathrow set for strike action

Border Force staff at Heathrow are set to take strike action for four days from the end of August, with passengers warned to expect “serious disruption”.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said the strike would take place from August 31 until September 3, followed by a period of work to rule and an overtime ban until September 22.

The union said its 650 members who work in passport control at terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 have been in dispute with the Home Office, their employer, since a new rota was imposed in April.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “We know our strike action is likely to cause serious disruption to travellers using Heathrow at the end of the summer, but the strike can be avoided if the employer listens to the concerns of our members.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We appreciate the tireless work that Border Force do to keep our borders safe and secure, and we are committed to continuing our conversations with the union so we can find an agreement that works for both the public and staff.

“We will have robust plans in place to minimise disruption where possible, but we urge passengers to check the latest advice from operators before they travel.”

A spokesperson for Heathrow said the airport would support any contingency plans that would be put in place by the Home Office and Border Force, adding that such plans had previously allowed passengers to travel smoothly.

The PCS said the rota changes had led to 160 Border Force staff quitting because of the “lack of flexibility and changes to the shifts”, with women and those with caring responsibilities particularly affected.

Long-standing staff had been “forced out of employment” so they could manage childcare and family commitments, according to the union.

It added that new staff had been refused flexible working applications, despite changes to the law allowing employees to make a statutory request for permanent changes to their contract from day one.

The union said its members had already taken seven days of strike action in April, May and June, as well as action short of a strike that included work to rule and an overtime ban.

Heathcote said: “Our hard-working members at Heathrow take great pride in keeping our country’s border safe, but many are being forced out of the job they love.

“They’re being told by managers to choose between caring responsibilities and their job, which is no choice at all. The only reason they’re being forced to choose is because their managers are forcing them.”