Border Force workers at UK’s Heathrow Airport begin 4-day strike in rosters dispute

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Hundreds of Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport, one of Europe’s busiest airports, have launched a four-day strike on Saturday, in a protracted dispute over what they describe as inflexible new work rosters.

The strike is expected to disrupt travel plans for many families returning to the UK as the summer holidays come to an end.

Around 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) are participating in the industrial action.

The workers have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the rosters introduced in April, which they claim have severely impacted their work-life balance.

The strike will be followed by a work-to-rule action, with staff refusing to work overtime on Sept. 4-22, further escalating the dispute.

The PCS union has highlighted the mental health toll the new rosters have taken on the workforce.

According to a union survey, four in five Heathrow Border Force workers experience stress related to their job, and more than a quarter have taken time off due to stress or related mental health issues since the implementation of the new scheduling system.

In a statement, Fran Heathcote, the general secretary of PCS, emphasized the detrimental impact of the rosters on the well-being of staff.

She also acknowledged the potential disruption for passengers, advising them to check with their operators for the latest travel updates.

In response to the strike, airport authorities and Border Force management have stated that they will implement contingency plans to minimize disruption.