Travel Delays Expected as Heathrow Staff go on Strike

Passport workers at London's Heathrow airport launched a month-long industrial action including a week-long strike on Wednesday, which is likely to affect travellers arriving at the international hub.

From 24 March to 21 April, 450 members of staff will work to rule and refuse overtime due to disagreements over a new work roster, the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said.

In addition, between April 1 to April 7 all members will strike, the union added.

During the industrial action, travellers can still land at the airport but immigration controls will take significantly longer.

The union said the action is due to changes to the employees' work patterns, which were imposed by Britain's Home Office in response to coronavirus safety measures, but without consulting the union.

"Staff have been on the front line during the pandemic and they’ve played a pivotal role in keeping the country Covid secure," PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said.

Nonetheless the Home Office is "persisting with treating its staff so appallingly," Serwotka added.

More disruptions are expected as airport workers who belong to a separate union announced 41 different strikes between April 2 and April 25, including staff in engineering, airside operations, landside operations, fire service, security and central terminal operations.

The union Unite said this was due to 25 per cent pay cuts of up to 8,000 pounds (10,000 dollars).

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