Heathrow Border Force officers to go on strike

The industrial action will involve three weeks of work-to-rule

A three-day strike by Border Force agents at London's Heathrow Airport "will likely cause serious disruption" a union has said.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) will strike from 31 August to 3 September then work-to-rule, which includes refusing overtime, until 22 September.

The union said the action involves 650 of its members in a dispute over the "enforced changes to terms and conditions".

The Home Office said it has "robust plans in place to minimise disruption where possible".

A PCS spokesperson said the industrial dispute, which began in April, is over issues including the introduction of "inflexible rosters".

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our hard-working members at Heathrow take great pride in keeping our country’s border safe but many are being forced out of the job they love."

She said staff are being told to "choose between caring responsibilities and their job".

“We know our strike action is likely to cause serious disruption to travellers using Heathrow at the end of the summer. But the strike can be avoided if the employer listens to the concerns of our members," Ms Heathcote said.

A Heathrow spokesperson referred BBC News to the Home Office as the employer of Border Force agents, but said it has worked through industrial action in the past and aims to minimise any disruption.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We appreciate the tireless work that Border Force do to keep our borders safe and secure, and we are committed to continuing our conversations with the union so we can find an agreement that works for both the public and staff."

They added passengers should check advice from their travel operators before travelling.

PCS members at Heathrow Airport last went on strike at the end of April.