Heathrow Airport could face disruption in the coming weeks following a vote by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) to hold strike action by its 600 members who perform immigration controls and passport checks. There are no announced dates for the walkouts, but the union says they could start from 8 April. The PCS has expressed concerns over proposed changes to working shift patterns which it claims would negatively impact workers while leaving nearly 250 without jobs on passport control. According to the PCS, if current members refuse to sign the new contracts offered by the Home Office, they would have to find work elsewhere.
PCS union general secretary Fran Heathcote commented, “It’s clear from today’s ballot result how angry and determined our members are to protect their jobs. It’s not too late for the Home Office to do the decent thing and drop these unnecessary changes and work with the union to protect jobs and working conditions.” The union has also signalled its intention to challenge the government’s minimum service levels legislation through the courts, while also vigourously defending its members’ right to strike if subjected to work notices being imposed.
A spokesperson from the Home Office moved quickly to offer assurances to members of the public that their top priority was to keep citizens safe and borders secure. They added that they were working closely with Heathrow Airport to minimise delays and would deploy sufficient resources to meet the critical demand of passenger numbers and goods passing through its borders
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