Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport are set to strike from August 31 to September 3 in a dispute over new, inflexible rosters. Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are taking action. They say the new system is causing significant stress and work-life balance issues.
650 PCS union members working at Heathrow terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, will walk out for four days from Saturday 31 August in their long-running dispute about the introduction of the new rosters. They will then work-to-rule and refuse to work overtime from September 4 – 22.
Recent Survey Reveals Work Stresses
A recent survey conducted by the PCS union found that four in five striking officers suffer from stress at work.
79.1% of respondents revealed that their jobs regularly made them feel anxious or stressed, with 27% saying they had taken time off due to stress or related mental health reasons since the introduction of the new rosters in April.
Other key findings from the survey include:
- 87.5% of respondents regularly worry about managing home commitments around work commitments.
- 79% feel pressured to work longer hours.
- Just 6% said they felt supported at work.
- Just 4.4% said they trust senior managers to make good decisions about their working environment.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote gave comment on the survey findings. “This survey shows how badly our members’ wellbeing is being affected by the new roster system. These inflexible rosters are preventing parents dropping off and picking up their children from school.”
“Managers could easily resolve the issue by allowing greater flexibility and by agreeing fixed shifts that give our members the chance to plan their caring responsibilities.”
Role of Border Force
Border Force officers at airports perform a crucial role in safeguarding the UK’s borders. Their primary responsibilities include:
- Immigration control: Checking passports, visas, and other travel documents of arriving and departing passengers to ensure compliance with immigration laws.
- Customs checks: Examining goods for prohibited or restricted items, such as drugs, weapons, and counterfeit goods.
- National security: Identifying potential security threats and working with other law enforcement agencies to prevent terrorism and other criminal activity.
- Counter-fraud: Detecting and preventing fraud related to immigration, customs, and other border-related activities.
Border Force strikes will significantly disrupt travel at Heathrow Airport. Passengers should contact their airlines for the latest information and adjust their travel plans accordingly.
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