Border Force members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will walk out for 24 hours on Wednesday as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, pensions, jobs and redundancy. In total, more than 130,000 PCS union members will walk out on Wednesday.
The Home Office has warned people travelling into the UK on Wednesday and during the early hours of Thursday morning (16 March) should be prepared to face longer wait times at the UK border, and advised them to check with their operator before travelling.
In France, several unions – said the Home Office – have called parallel action. "This industrial action may lead to additional disruption to services and queues at French ports not due to Border Force strike action," said the Home Office.
The strike by Border Force officials is set to run until 7am on Thursday, and is likely to affect all UK air and maritime ports. The Home Office, though, said the UK government had undertaken "extensive planning" to minimise disruption and reduce queues, drafting other government and military resources to carry out essential border checks.
"Border Force has been working closely with port operators and carriers to ensure we have robust plans in place to minimise any delays to travellers and goods entering the UK if strike action goes ahead," said the Home Office.
Steve Dann, Border Force chief operating officer, added: "It is disappointing that yet again strike action may cause disruption to travellers entering the UK.
"Border Force’s number one priority to is keep our citizens safe and borders secure. We are working closely with port operators and partners across the travel industry to meet critical demand and support the flow of passengers and goods through our border.
"During this period of industrial action, travellers should be prepared for disruption. We encourage everyone to check the latest advice from operators before travelling."
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the government’s offer of a 2% pay rise paled in comparison with inflation, with food inflation up by 16%. "To stop the strikes the government must do what we’ve asked them to do what we’ve asked them to do for months and that’s put money on the table and do that now," Serwotka told ITV News.
The action will coincide with chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s spring Budget.
