Heathrow Airport Braces for Strikes as Staff Take Action Over Working Conditions
Over the next two weeks, Heathrow Airport will experience a series of strikes as staff members protest against changes to their working conditions. The first strike is already underway and is expected to cause widespread disruption.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union has announced that Border Force officers will walk out for four days, from now until Thursday, May 2. This will affect arrivals at the airport rather than departures. The strike is in response to proposed changes to roster plans which will result in approximately 250 staff members losing their jobs at passport control. According to the PCS, more than 300 of its members working at terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5 will participate in the strike.
Fran Heathcote, the general secretary of PCS, stated, “Our members are angry and disappointed at being forced out of their jobs. While not everyone will be affected, the changes will disproportionately hit those who are disabled or have caring responsibilities.” The union is calling on the Home Office to reconsider these changes and retain experienced and trained staff members.
A spokesperson for the Home Office has stated that they have “robust plans in place to minimize any potential disruption” during the strikes while ensuring the security of the borders remains a top priority. They also expressed disappointment with the union’s decision but remain open to discussing a resolution. The spokesperson added that the proposed changes will bring the working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with those at other ports, providing them with more certainty on working patterns and improving the service to the traveling public.
In addition to the Border Force officers, almost 800 staff members from various departments at Heathrow are set to take part in a week-long strike in May. This includes members of Unite, in departments such as passenger services, trolley operations, campus security, firefighters, and airside operations. The strike will take place on May 7-13, and according to Unite, it will inevitably cause widespread disruption and delays at the airport.
Unite has also expressed concern about the airport’s plans to outsource the work of passenger services, trolley operations, and campus security by June 1, in a cost-cutting exercise that is expected to save the airport £40 million. This could lead to a significant reduction in the number of workers and raise security concerns, according to the union. Additionally, its members in the firefighters and airside operations departments are striking out of fear that their work may also be outsourced in the future.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has condemned the airport’s actions, stating, “Heathrow Airport’s actions are deplorable, it is raking in massive profits for the bosses while trying to squeeze every last penny out of its workforce.” She reassured members that Unite will provide unrelenting support during the dispute.
However, a spokesperson for Heathrow has stated that they are reorganizing their operations to improve customer service and that there will be no job losses as a result of these changes. They also stated that Unite’s threats of industrial action are unnecessary and that the airport will continue to operate smoothly during the strikes.
On a positive note, a strike involving refueling workers, which was set to take place from May 4-6 and affect more than 30 airlines, has been called off after workers accepted a new offer on pay and conditions.
For more information on the strikes at Heathrow Airport, please visit the Sky News website.
