Jet2 has issued a warning to passengers travelling via UK airports tomorrow (February 1). The low-cost airline, which operates from East Midlands Airport and nine others in the UK, put out a statement with Border Force workers set to walkout.
The workers are among 100,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) who will go on strike as part of a long-running dispute, over pay, jobs and conditions. Border Force staff who man passport booths are among civil servants from 124 government departments and other bodies taking part.
While the industrial action is not expected to directly disrupt flights, travelling are warned they could face long queues at airports throughout Wednesday (Feb 1) and into the following morning as a result. A statement from Jet2 reads: "We just wanted to remind you that there are planned Border Force strikes taking place from Wednesday 1st February until Thursday 2nd February 2023 at 07:00.
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"All our flights are planned to operate as normal. Things may take a little longer than usual, particularly when you arrive in the UK. Our teams will be on hand to help your journey run smoothly. You don't need to take any action, we will continue to update you if there are any further changes or updates."
The PCS is seeking a pay rise of 10% after the government offered 2%, which the union argues is well below the rate of inflation. The union has said tomorrow's walkouts will be the largest civil service strike for years and signals a "significant escalation" of industrial action after a month of strikes.
Speaking about the strikes at an aviation conference in London, Border Force director-general Phil Douglas said: "It's everybody out. All PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) members are full out on strike tomorrow. But we’ve been planning for this for weeks and months.
"Of course there’s going to be some disruption and some queues." He added: “I don’t rule out further industrial action. The union has a mandate until May."
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