Airports have warned of potential delays through immigration control on Wednesday (March 20) due to a strike by Border Force staff.
Employees, who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, are due to go on a 24-hour strike designed to coincide with tomorrow’s budget from chancellor George Osborne.
UK Border Agency said in a statement: “Our top priority is minimising disruption to our public-facing services and our public offices will remain open for business. We apologise for any disruption to services which result from this industrial action.”
Heathrow warned that arriving passengers “may experience some delays at immigration” but said it was not changing any flight schedules.
“The Home Office has assured us it has contingency plans in place to minimise any disruption caused by the strike,” said the airport. “We are operating a normal flight schedule and we are not advising passengers to change their plans.”
PCS workers around the UK are taking industrial action in protest at proposed cuts to pay, pensions and working conditions. The union said the timing of the strike was designed “to put maximum pressure on ministers who are refusing to talk to us”.
“Action will start with a 24-hour strike on budget day,” said the PCS. “When the chancellor stands up to deliver his budget we'll be protesting across the UK.”
Stansted said its flights would be operating as normal but added they may be some delays at passport control.
“UK Border Force has contingency plans in place and we will work with them to ensure any disruption to our passengers is kept to a minimum,” said the airport.
It was a similar message from Luton which advised incoming passengers to take a series of steps to ease any potential delays including the use of automatic e-Passport gates, having landing cards fully completed and staying in family groups.
For the latest updates on the strike, click here