Train drivers will join Border Force staff in launching action, along with some ground handlers, as the post-new year rush and return to work begins.
Here are the key disputes and dates to be aware of.
Rail
Rail union Aslef has now joined the RMT in planned strikes over 3-4 January and 6-7 January, ensuring the return to work is affected.
A whole week of disruption is forecast, as there are unlikely to be many early trains on 5 January due to train and crew displacement.
Drivers from 15 train companies spanning the length of the country will take action, including Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express. The dispute centres on pay and conditions, but also the threatened closure of ticket offices.
Border Force
Border Force members of the Public and Commercial Services union are due to walk out over 23-25 December and over 28-30 December, ending around 7am on new year’s eve. Action will be paused at “about 7am” on 26 December, before resuming at midnight on 28 December.
The affected airports are: Birmingham, Cardiff, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Manchester. The Port of Newhaven will also be hit.
Departing air passengers are unlikely to be affected, nor will those arriving from Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Arriving passengers with biometric (UK and EU) passports can use electronic border gates as normal, but delays are expected at peak times. Face-to-face passport checks will also take longer.
Many airports will have Border Force staff roles filled by defence and civil service staff, including the Army.
The Home Office said those entering the UK “should be prepared to face longer wait times at UK border control”.
Birmingham airport chief executive Nick Barton said it would operate “our normal schedule of flights both in and out”. “The Border Force strike will not affect any departing passengers, irrespective of destination and for inbound passengers we have mitigation plans which aim to make their entry into the UK as swift and easy as possible.”
London’s hubs look certain to be disrupted, with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic already stopping new ticket sales for inbound flights to Heathrow on the days of the strikes.
Baggage handlers
There is some good news at last for travellers, with strike action by Menzies staff planned to start on 16 December at Heathrow averted after a last-minute pay offer was accepted.
The bad news is Unite union members are being balloted on the latest offer and strike action scheduled to begin on 29 December remains in place pending the outcome of the ballot.
