Hundreds of Heathrow Airport Border Force staff are set to strike in April. The action will involve more than 600 security officials over four days next month.
The walkout will take place from Thursday, April 11 to Sunday, April 14. It will see workers who carry out immigration controls and passport checks at Heathrow fight against a new roster and changes to shift patterns.
It comes after plans to outsource security staff in a scheme to save £400 million. This change received immediate backlash from workers as third-party suppliers would be responsible for overseeing Heathrow’s campus security control posts as well as trolley and passenger support services.
READ MORE: London Underground strikes could mean queues for buses, Elizabeth line and late trains
Fran Heathcote, general secretary of PCS, said to Sky News: “Ministers have 14 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 heartbroken 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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