Workers across a number of industries in the UK are taking part in strike action this Christmas. Those walking out include teachers, ambulance drivers, bin workers, postal workers, nurses and taxi drivers. But there were also whispers of a Border Force strike – and now this has been confirmed.
Staff at UK borders will walk out over Christmas, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has announced. PCS members employed by the Home Office on passport control will take action at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow airports on December 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30 and 31.
The union members are asking for a 10 percent pay rise, as well as better job security and redundancy terms. Around 100,000 PCS members voted in favour of the strike action, and thousands of other civil servants will also take part.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary at the PCS, said: ‘The government can stop these strikes tomorrow if it puts money on the table. Like so many workers, our members are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. They are desperate.’ He added that many union members couldn’t afford to put their heating on.