Immigration Officers strike threatens airport chaos

The Daily Mail reports that a  two-day walk-out by 1,200 staff from the UK Border Agency is planned to start on August 5, in the middle of the holiday season.

The Border Agency said it would put in place contingency plans and expects minimal disruption.

But the Public and Commercial Services Union warned travellers would face ‘long delays’ at UK ports and airports.

In yesterday’s ballot, 78 per cent of PCSU members backed industrial action over shift patterns and working practices, which changed after customs and immigration controls were merged into the single UK Border Agency.

According to the union, the merger means immigration staff would have to carry out custom officers’ duties for which they have not been trained, such as strip searches. 

The walk out by immigration officers bound to cause delays for non-EU travellers, where long queues are the norm, especially migrant workers and students arriving at major ports.