The busiest day of the winter so far at many British airports coincides with the start of eight days of industrial action by UK border force staff at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff airports.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union who normally check passports will strike from 23 December until the end of the year, with the exception of 27 December. UK Border Force staff will also strike at the port of Newhaven in East Sussex on the same dates.
Almost two million passengers are booked to fly into the affected airports during the stoppages. Could their festive flights be disrupted – and what are the airports and airlines saying?
These are the key questions and answers.
What is the strike about?
“Pay, pensions, jobs,” according to the PCS. The general secretary, Mark Serwotka, says: “Like so many workers, our members are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. They are desperate.
“They are being told there is no money for them, while they watch ministers giving out government contracts worth billions of pounds to their mates.”
The home secretary, Suella Braverman, said: “It’s very regrettable that they have made this decision to potentially strike over critical times in the run up and following Christmas and New Year.
When exactly does the strike start and end?
The union says simply: “PCS members employed by the Home Office on passport control will take action at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow airports on December 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30 and 31.”
In fact the strike is slightly more nuanced. The Independent understands that UK Border Force staff will walk out for three days on 23-25 December, with officers who would normally sign on for the night shift meaning that the strike will have an impact until 7am on Boxing Day. A repeat three-day action on 28-30 December will have an impact until 7am on New Year’s Eve.
What will the effects be?
Passengers on Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet, are warned: “We’ve been advised that queues at passport control could be more than two hours long, for all passengers arriving into the UK at Gatwick, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester airport.”
The Home Office says: “Those entering the UK should be prepared for potential disruption.”
The home secretary warns:…
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