Half-term misery for families as Border Force staff plan new strikes
Families face half-term misery at Heathrow as Border Force staff launch a fresh round of strikes over working conditions.
Hundreds of officers at Heathrow Airport will be downing tools in a dispute over working rosters.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said more than 500 of its members would walk out on May 31, June 1 and 2.
This is the final weekend of the May half-term holidays for thousands of families. Strikers will also refuse to work overtime for three weeks starting from June 4.
The officers, who work in all of Heathrow’s terminals, previously went on strike for four days spanning the end of April and the beginning of May.
Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, said: “We are keen to resolve this dispute but the Home Office must first put something on the table for our members to consider.
“The Home Office has said it is ‘open to discuss’ a resolution but it only responded to our request for a meeting after we threatened further action.
“Until it comes back with changes to the roster that will benefit our members then the dispute will continue.”
Outsourcing security
The airport has been increasingly beset by threats of industrial action this year after Thomas Woldbye, the new chief executive, said he would introduce cost-saving measures, including outsourcing security jobs to third-party contractors.
Threatened walk-outs by 800 security staff for four days starting from May 9 were averted at the last minute after airport bosses made a fresh offer to the Unite union.
Meanwhile, aircraft refuellers also represented by Unite had made a similar threat of strike action in late April – which was again called off after bosses struck a bargain on pay and working conditions.
A Heathrow spokesman said: “Strikes such as this have been managed successfully before.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are disappointed with the union’s decision to strike but remain open to discussing a resolution with PCS union.
“The changes we are implementing will bring the working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with the way staff work at all other major ports, provide them with more certainty on working patterns, and improve the service to the travelling public.
“We have robust plans in place to minimise disruption where possible, but we urge passengers to check the latest advice from operators before they travel.”
