Hundreds of Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport, one of Europe’s busiest airports, have initiated a four-day strike starting Saturday due to ongoing disputes over new work rosters. Approximately 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are participating in the industrial action, which is expected to impact travel plans for many families returning to the UK as the summer holidays end.
The strike is a result of dissatisfaction with new work rosters introduced in April, which workers claim have negatively affected their work-life balance. Following this 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 expressed concerns about the mental health effects of the new scheduling system. A PCS survey found that four in five Heathrow Border Force workers experience job-related stress, with over 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, emphasized the detrimental impact of the new 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 minimize disruption.
