A strike by Border Force officers at Heathrow this week has been suspended as the union and Home Office continue talks about changes to rosters.
More than 600 Border Force officers at Heathrow had been due to strike on April 11-14 – coinciding with the end of the Easter school holidays.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said the proposed changes could see “as many as 250 staff forced out of their jobs by the end of April”.
A statement from the union on Friday (April 5) said: “In the notice issued to the Home Office on 28 March of its intention to induce members to strike, PCS outlined which Border Force roles would be participating.
“Following Home Office’s desire for clarification and in a spirit of collaboration, PCS has suspended the planned strikes.
“However, if the Home Office does not engage in meaningfully addressing members’ grievances, strikes will be resumed and further escalated.”
Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, said: “This is a significant move on the part of PCS that demonstrates a genuine will to work constructively in devising a new roster system that is acceptable to our members, particularly those with disabilities or those with caring responsibilities.
“This does not end the dispute. It is an opportunity for the Home Office to demonstrate they are genuinely seeking a resolution.”
Picture of Heathrow by EQRoy/Shutterstock.com
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