Passengers arriving into the UK on international flights today and tomorrow should be prepared for longer waits at passport control, due to strike action by UK Border Agency staff.
The 48-hour strike action by the PCS union is taking place today (Wednesday October 13) and tomorrow (Thursday October 14).
According to the Home Office website disruption is expected to be minimal, and strike action is being carried out by “a minority of UK Border Agency staff”, although it adds that “the number of staff taking action and the number of ports affected will not be known until the strike starts, but will be updated online during the strike period”.
Lin Homer, chief executive, UK Border Agency said:
“This strike action is fundamentally about the agency's efforts to modernise its working practices to deliver a more efficient and effective service.
“As always, our priority is to keep the UK border secure while speeding the travel of legitimate travellers and goods. We expect the vast majority of our facilities and services to remain open for business.”
The PCS union says that up to 2,500 staff will be taking part in the strike action, in a dispute about “changes to rosters and roles, and the downgrading of highly sensitive immigration control work”.
A recent tweet on Virgin Atlantic’s official Twitter page advises: “Border strike latest update – LGW & MAN operating OK. LHR Terminal 3 slight delays in arrivals for non-EU passport holders.”
For more information visit homeoffice.gov.uk, pcs.org.uk.
