U.K. Border Force staff are going on strike for eight days over Christmas at Heathrow, Gatwick and several other airports, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has announced. About 75% of passport control staff are PCS members — and Heathrow has warned checks may take longer on strike days.
BBC News reports that thousands of other U.K. civil servants — including driving test examiners — will also be taking industrial action.
PCS boss Mark Serwotka said the strikes would “escalate” unless the government “put money on the table now”.
Strikes at the U.K. Department for Work and Pensions and the Highways Agency have already been announced.
About 1,000 Border Force staff are expected to walk out on eight days between 23 December and New Year’s Eve at Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Gatwick, Heathrow (terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5) and Manchester airports, as well as at the port of Newhaven.
There is a growing wave of industrial action in December as ambulance and healthcare workers prepare to join rail workers in striking over pay and conditions as the cost of living soars.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on December 7 that he would bring in “new tough laws” to curb the impact of strikes as he criticized “unreasonable” union chiefs.
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