Major motorway spillage spells chaos near airport as three day strike begins

Delays could hit passengers at Heathrow Airport as hundreds of Border Force officers begin a three-day strike as a major crash on the M25 causes big tailbacks.

The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) announced that more than 500 of its members working on passport control at terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be taking action against new rosters being imposed. The three-day strike begins today, potentially causing delays across the half-term weekend.

Meanwhile, cars travelling on the M25 were also delayed earlier following a multi-car pile up in Surrey. All lanes reopened shortly after 9AM, but 90 minute delays across six miles between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26) are still clearing. There are also delays anticlockwise from J27 M11 to J25 A10 (Enfield) due to construction works.

Have you been impacted by the border force strikes at Heathrow Airport? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

PCS claimed that around 250 staff face losing their jobs or being moved on to other work against their will. Those who remain will have longer shifts, inflexible shift-swapping rules, no clarity on booking leave and no way to work around caring responsibilities, the PCS claimed. As a consequence, campaigners have launched a petition in support of the workers.

In an interview with LBC this morning, PCS industrial officer Edda Nicolson said: “The biggest concern that we have is the longstanding, flexible working arrangements that have allowed workers with disabilities or caring responsibilities, have simply been ripped up. So now, they have much longer shifts they have to work, and there is a lot of inflexibility as well.”

“We are quite concerned about their working conditions, because it has simply changed into quite a draconian environment,” she added. The strikes will be followed by three weeks of industrial action short of a strike, including a ban on overtime. The union said it expected disruption over the weekend as families return to the UK at the end of the half-term holiday.

“It is quite a widespread dispute,” Edda continued. “The home office has had months and months to end this dispute. We’ve been at the table with them and we have asked for changes and some concessions… but it is simply falling on deaf ears.”

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote also called all trade unionists and the public to support the petition, and “tell Border Force management to scrap this unwelcome and unworkable roster that has already caused misery to our members.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are aware of the planned strike activity at Heathrow this weekend. Border Force have robust plans to minimise disruption and keep the border safe and secure. We recommend that passengers check the latest advice from their operators before travelling.”