A four-day Border Force strike set to begin on Saturday will have a minimal impact on operations, aviation sources believe.
The strike by 650 members of the PCS union, who work at passport control at all four Heathrow terminals, looks likely to go ahead unless there are changes to roster arrangements imposed from April.
The airport’s border staff have already staged a three-day strike at the end of May and four-day strike on April 29 to May 2, plus a work-to-rule and overtime ban through most of June.
More: Border Force staff at Heathrow set for strike action [August 16]
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote warned the strike is “likely to cause serious disruption to travellers using Heathrow”.
However, both Heathrow and the Home Office, which oversees Border Force, downplayed the likely impact. A Heathrow source noted government contingency planning “has worked well previously, allowing passengers to continue to travel smoothly”.
Passengers are advised to use passport e-gates if eligible. All UK and EU biometric passport holders aged 10 and over can use e-gates – although children aged 10-17 must be accompanied by an adult – together with citizens of the US, Australia, Canada and several other countries.
A Home Office spokesperson said there would be “robust plans in place to minimise disruption” but added: “We urge passengers to check the latest advice from operators before travel.”
The spokesperson added: “We’re committed to continuing our conversations with the union so we can find an agreement.”
The Home Office has previously said it would “deploy necessary personnel to meet demand”, using managers.
The strikes follow a ballot in March which saw 90% of the PCS members involved vote to walk out over the new rosters, with the union dismissing a staff consultation as “a farce”.
The Home Office argued the changes “bring working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with the way staff work at all other major ports”.
However, the union reports 160 staff have been forced to leave “because of the lack of flexibility”, arguing “women and those with caring responsibilities [have been] particularly affected”.
The planned strike from August 31 to September 3 will be followed – unless there is a settlement – by a work-to-rule and overtime ban until September 22.