Strike dates announced at Heathrow Airport

In a ballot that closed last week, PCS members who carry out immigration controls and passport checks at Heathrow airport voted by 90% to walk out over a new roster and imposed changes to shift patterns.

The 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.

The nearly 600 PCS members will strike for four days on 11, 12, 13 and 14 April.

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 heart-broken 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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