Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport are set to go on strike from 31 August in an escalating dispute over changes to terms and conditions.
The 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will stage their walkout from August 31 to September 3. After the initial strike, workers will adopt a “work-to-rule” strategy, refusing to work overtime and strictly adhering to their contracted hours until September 22.
The dispute, which has been ongoing since April, centres around enforced changes to the officers‘ terms, including the introduction of inflexible rosters. The PCS union argues that these changes disrupt workers’ personal lives and create challenging working conditions.
Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said, “Our members have been left with no choice but to take this action after months of trying to resolve this dispute. The government’s inflexibility has pushed Border Force staff to the brink.
The strike is expected to cause significant disruption at Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, particularly during the end-of-summer travel period. Travellers have been advised to prepare for potential delays.
The Home Office, which oversees the Border Force, expressed disappointment over the strike action and stated that they are working to minimize the impact on passengers. A spokesperson said, “We are continuing talks with the PCS union to find a resolution, and contingency plans are in place to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
This industrial action adds to a wave of strikes across various sectors in the UK this year as workers push back against changes to employment conditions and demand better pay and working conditions.
