British holidaymakers could face travel disruption over Christmas and New Year due to potential strike action by Border Force staff. Members of the ISU union for borders, immigration and customers are being balloted for industrial action in light of the government’s suggested three percent pay rise.
Imports of goods and food could be impacted as the union intends to target border ports. Reduced staff would lead to delays at airports, affecting those planning to travel over the festive period.
Approximately 3,500 Border Force workers are calling for an eight per cent pay rise, The Express reports. Mark Gribbin, the ISU’s general secretary said the Home Office’s three per cent pay rise is a “profound insult” amid the cost of living crisis.
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The union blasts the Home Office for "[refusing] to engage with our pay claim or to offer any avenue to resolve this dispute constructively".
Lucy Moreton from the ISU told Express.co.uk : "[The Home Office] are aware of our ballot and our concerns. The impact of over 10 years of public sector pay restraint is well known and acknowledged.
"The difference for our members is that they are key workers who fulfil an essential public service. Where police, ambulance staff, nursing staff etc have all been recognised – and rightly so - for their service through the pandemic and by the Queen during the jubilee, Borders and Immigration staff have been side-lined and ignored."
Mr Gribbin stressed that the union plans on a "longer period" of "more focused" industrial action. He told the Telegraph : "The Home Office position is intransigent, unreasonable and disrespectful. We have now exhausted all options short of industrial action to carry forward our pay campaign.
"There will be a focus on our border ports and on Channel migrant work. We are also considering a longer period of industrial action over the Christmas and New Year period.
"We are prepared also to look at more focussed action, directed either at refraining from specific workplace activities or perhaps shorter strike stoppages, where lengthier action would risk especially severe national security consequences."
He added: "We have offered the Home Office every opportunity to enter into meaningful dialogue. They have repeatedly refused to engage with our eight per cent pay claim. The Home Office position is intransigent, unreasonable and disrespectful. We have now exhausted all options short of industrial action to carry forward our pay campaign."
The union suggested that they would not take action that could jeopardise national security, meaning controls would continue at the borders. But the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent claimed that risks are entailed if the strike does occur, with the situation looking "problematic".
Matthew Scott told the Telegraph: "Kent is a can-do police force but if we get 500 to 600 migrants turning up on a strike day, that will be problematic."The Commissioner is seeking an urgent meeting with Cabinet Office ministers and officials to discuss contingency plans.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We work closely with all UK ports and airports to ensure passengers and goods can cross the border as smoothly as possible, and will do so in the event of any industrial action. Government have robust plans in place to deploy officers flexibly to support the flow of passengers and goods at the UK border."
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