Major disruption at Heathrow as border force workers begin strike

650 staff protest new rosters as industrial action highlights serious concerns over work-life balance

LONDON:

Hundreds of Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport, one of Europe’s busiest airports, have begun a four-day strike on Saturday due to a prolonged dispute over new work rosters. Approximately 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are participating in the industrial action, which is anticipated to affect travel plans for many families returning to the UK as the summer holidays conclude.

The strike stems from dissatisfaction with work rosters introduced in April, which workers argue have adversely affected their work-life balance. Following the strike, the PCS union plans to escalate the situation with a work-to-rule action from September 4 to 22, during which staff will refuse to work overtime.

The union has raised concerns about the mental health impact of the new scheduling system. A survey by PCS revealed that four in five Heathrow Border Force workers experience job-related stress, with more than a quarter having taken time off due to stress or related mental health issues since the new rosters were implemented.

Fran Heathcote, PCS General Secretary, highlighted the negative effect of the rosters on staff well-being and advised passengers to check with their travel operators for updates. In response to the strike, airport authorities and Border Force management have announced contingency plans to mitigate disruption.