Passengers at airports across the country were warned to expect delays as Border Force staff walked out today on the first day of their strike over pay and conditions. The strike will go on until New Year though the union boss Mark Serwotka stated they have a 'mandate' for walkouts until May.
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The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said more than 1,000 Border Force staff are thought to be striking with PM Rishi Sunak responding that he was ’sad’ about the disruption but believed he had acted ‘fairly and reasonably’ over public sector pay, as per the BBC.
Pay rise
The PCS said its Border Force members had been offered a 2% pay rise, considerably below inflation that was at 10.7% in November. Employees are walking out at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow airports. Military personnel and civil servants have been drafted in to cover staff shortages.
Border Force have apologised for any disruption to travellers with chief operating officer Steve Dann saying, as per Reuters:
During the periods of industrial action, travellers should be prepared for disruption.
Despite the warnings, Heathrow and Gatwick have so far not reported any significant disruption with a Heathrow Spokesperson reporting:
Immigration halls are free flowing ...with Border Force and the military contingency providing a good service.
What if your flight is cancelled?
If your flight is cancelled it’s important to know your rights and the duty of care the airline has to you, as per the BBC.
- If your flight is cancelled, you have the right to either a full refund, or a replacement flight.
- If another airline is flying to your destination significantly sooner, or there are other suitable modes of transport available, then you have a right to be booked onto that alternative transport instead.
- Your airline should provide free meals or refreshments, or overnight accommodation if required, if you are delayed at the airport for more than two hours.
- Several airlines are allowing passengers with flights arriving in the UK on strike days to change their tickets free of charge.
- Strike action, or bad weather, is beyond the airline's control, so you are not entitled to extra compensation. That is only paid when it is the airline's fault.
Sources used:
- BBC 'Airport strikes could go on for months, says PCS union boss'
- Reuters 'Air travellers warned of delays as UK passport control staff strike'
