Hundreds of Border Force officers at London Heathrow, one of the world's largest airports, are set to strike for four days starting Saturday due to ongoing concerns about working conditions, according to their union. The union has been in dispute over the implementation of new rosters, which they describe as 'inflexible'. This latest round of industrial action follows a similar strike in April. Approximately 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, working across terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5, will participate in the walkout and will also decline overtime work for 18 days beginning September 4.
The PCS highlighted on Friday that a recent survey among those planning to strike revealed that four out of five officers experience stress at work and feel compelled to work extended hours. 'This survey underscores the severe impact the new roster system is having on our members' well-being,' stated PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote. 'These rigid rosters are making it difficult for parents to接送孩子 to and from school.' She suggested that the issue could be readily addressed by granting more flexibility and establishing fixed shifts that allow officers to manage their caregiving responsibilities.
A spokesperson for the interior ministry, which oversees the Border Force, expressed commitment to ongoing discussions with the union to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. 'We will implement strong contingency plans to reduce disruption as much as possible, but advise passengers to consult the latest travel advice from operators,' the spokesperson said. The government had previously mobilized military personnel to handle passport checks at six airports, including Heathrow, just before Christmas in December 2022 when approximately 1,000 Border Force staff went on strike.
