Thousands of UK Border Force employees are threatening to go on strike over a salary dispute, heightening worries of a dismal winter owing to the widespread industrial action sweeping the country.
Some 3,500 Border Force, immigration, and visa officers are threatening to strike during the holiday season, which could cause hours-long lines at airports and ports when millions of people fly abroad to visit family.
The employees, who are represented by the ISU union, demand an 8% wage increase and have already rejected a 3% raise from the Home Office.
It comes after food industry executives warned that supplies of beers, turkeys, takeout, and other holiday foods and beverages could be strained as union employees plan to strike in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
In the meanwhile, more than 115,000 postal workers went on strike on Tuesday, and this month’s rail schedule includes additional disruptions.
On November 7, the PCS union, which represents more than 150,000 government personnel, including extra Border Force and immigration officers, will conduct a separate vote on industrial action.
Thousands of UK Border Force employees are threatening to go on strike over a salary dispute, heightening worries of a dismal winter in the United Kingdom owing to widespread industrial action (Pictured: Long queues seen at Heathrow last October)
Some 3,500 Border Force, immigration, and visa officers are threatening to strike during the holiday season, which could cause hours-long lines at airports and ports when millions of people fly abroad to visit family (Pictured: Travel chaos last summer)
The ISU stated last night that any industrial action by Border Force would not jeopardize national security, indicating that border inspections will continue, albeit at a significantly slower pace.
Mark Gribbin, general secretary of the ISU, warned a “longer period” of walkouts throughout the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season, but did not specify particular dates.
This includes personnel involved with Channel migrant crossings and border port control, prompting former Border Force director general Tony Smith to warn that such a move might compromise national security.
The ISU membership voting will conclude on October 31. More than 50 percent of members must participate and more than 40 percent must vote in favor of strikes for them to take place, according to the Telegraph, however an indicative vote indicates that both requirements will be met.
Mr. Gribbin stated, “We are profoundly sorry and frustrated that this point has been reached.
We have provided the Home Office with every chance to engage in a substantive discourse. They have continuously refused to negotiate our eight percent wage increase request.
“The position of the Home Office is unyielding, irrational, and disrespectful.” We have explored all alternatives excluding industrial action in our salary struggle.”
The focus will be on our border ports and Channel migratory labor, he stressed. Additionally, we are proposing a lengthier period of industrial action between Christmas and New Year’s.
Mark Gribbin, general secretary of the ISU, promised a “longer period” of walkouts between Christmas and New Year’s. However, he did not provide specific dates.
“We are also willing to consider more targeted actions, such as a refusal to engage in specified workplace activities or perhaps shorter strike stoppages, if longer actions pose an especially grave threat to national security.”
The strikes could lead to the induction of police or perhaps the military to combat the migratory situation.
Matthew Scott, the police and crime commissioner for Kent, has requested an emergency meeting with Cabinet Office officials to discuss contingency measures.
He stated, “Kent has a capable police force, but if 500 to 600 migrants show up on a strike day, that will be troublesome.”
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