A four-day strike by Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport is imminent, raising concerns about potential disruptions. Despite these fears, aviation sources suggest that the impact on airport operations will be minimal.
The planned industrial action is set to commence on Saturday and involve 650 members of the PCS union working in passport control across all four terminals at Heathrow. This follows previous strikes and ongoing disputes over roster changes introduced in April.
Passengers are advised to use e-gates where possible. These are available to UK and EU biometric passport holders aged 10 and over, and citizens from several other countries, including the US, Australia, and Canada.
The Home Office plans to deploy necessary personnel to manage demand, utilising managers to support operations.
Since the introduction of these rosters, approximately 160 staff members have reportedly left their positions due to these changes.
The union continues to push for more flexible working conditions and better support for affected staff.
Work-to-rule and overtime bans in June had minimal impact on airport operations.
Travellers should check the latest advice from airlines and airports before heading to Heathrow.
In summary, while the impending strike at Heathrow could present challenges, the preparations and contingency measures in place are expected to keep disruptions to a minimum.
