FAMILIES FACE EASTER HOLIDAY TRAVEL CHAOS AS MORE THAN 600 BORDER FORCE OFFICERS AT HEATHROW AIRPORT TO STRIKE OVER LAST FOUR DAYS OF FESTIVE BREAK

Families are set to face Easter holiday travel chaos as more than 600 Border Force officials at Heathrow Airport will strike in a dispute over shifts. 

The strike is set to begin on April 11 and end four days later on April 14 - just as families return from their Easter holidays. 

The officers, who carry out immigration controls and passport checks on behalf of Britain's Home Office, voted to take strike action last week over new changes to shift patterns. 

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: 'Ministers have fourteen 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.

Will YOUR holiday be affected? Email [email protected]  

'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 heart-broken 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.'

It comes as two million British holidaymakers are set to jet off abroad over the Easter weekend, with Manchester Airport bracing for 'record-breaking' passenger numbers. 

Turkey, Dubai and the Canary Islands are among the most popular destinations amid wet and windy weather forecast for the UK, although trips to Dublin are also in demand. 

Glasgow predicts more than 90,000 passengers over the four days, while Birmingham Airport said it expects a 27.2 per cent increase in departures on last year over the full Easter period.

Bristol, which predicts 30,000 holiday trips on Easter Sunday alone, advised: 'If travelling with Easter eggs, passengers are advised to keep any chocolate treats in your cabin baggage and to make sure they're easily accessible as they may need to be opened for a quick check.'

A spokesperson for PCS said union members at Heathrow airport voted by 90 per cent to strike over a new roster and shift patterns changes. 

The PCS said its members are angry at planned alterations to their shifts that would have a detrimental effect on them and leave nearly 250 without a job on passport control.   

If they refuse to accept the new contracts, they would be forced to seek jobs elsewhere in the Home Office, said the PCS.

Will YOUR holiday be affected? Email [email protected]   

Read more

2024-03-28T17:41:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd