Wortley Today The latest headlines from the UK
London, England – Brace yourselves, travellers! Hundreds of Border Force officers are gearing up to strike at Heathrow Airport later this month, threatening significant disruption for passengers. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, representing the striking staff, cited changes to working conditions as the reason for the walkout.
According to the PCS, over 300 of their members working at terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5 at Heathrow will down tools for four days, starting from April 29th and continuing until May 2nd. The union further alleges that around 250 of these officers face job losses at passport control due to the implementation of new roster plans.
PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote expressed outrage on behalf of the affected members. “Our members are rightfully angry and disappointed at being forced out of their jobs,” she stated. “While not everyone will be directly impacted, these changes will disproportionately affect those with disabilities or caring responsibilities.” Ms. Heathcote urged the Home Office to prioritize retaining experienced and trained staff, arguing that the new roster system is impractical and will lead to unnecessary losses.
These planned strikes come after a previous round scheduled for last week was suspended in anticipation of negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute. However, with talks apparently falling short, the PCS has now reinstated the industrial action, raising concerns about potential travel chaos at Heathrow.
