Heathrow Airport: Hundreds of Border Force officers start four-day strike
Hundreds of Border Force office have started a four-day strike at Heathrow Airport.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said more than 300 of its members will walk out from 5am today [April 29] to 7am on Friday [May 3].
The PCS said the workers, based in terminals two, three, four and five, walked out in a dispute over working conditions.
The union said the action was over plans to introduce new rotas that would see about 250 of members ‘forced out of their jobs at passport control’.
The PCS’ general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "It's disappointing that, despite talks last week, the Home Office is not prepared to grant any flexibility to their new roster.
"None of our dedicated and highly experienced members in the Border Force want to take strike action but the way they've been treated by their employer leaves them with no option."
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The changes we are implementing will bring the working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with the way staff work at other 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."