Border Force workers are the latest workers to announce a series of strikes in the run up to Christmas.
The Public and Commercial Services union announced its members working at Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff airports will strike for eight days from December 23 to New Year's Eve. It comes as Border Force workers are facing a dispute over pay, pensions and jobs.
The union has already announced strikes at the Department for Work and Pensions, the Highways Agency and among driving examiners. Now, around 1,000 Border Force workers will strike on December 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 31.
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Some flights are likely to be cancelled, according to Manchester Airport, and the Airport Operators Association (AOA) said if the strikes cannot be averted then “concrete and deliverable contingency measures” must be put in place.
The Business Travel Association said the “entire travel support system will once more be plunged into dealing with cancellations and disruptions”.
A spokesperson said: “Further strike action puts British workers’ Christmases at risk. Hard workers up and down the country will be stranded, struggling to get home.
“The entire travel support system will once more be plunged into dealing with cancellations and disruptions rather than bookings with no financial recompense.
“We urge the Government and unions to come together to ensure there aren’t unnecessary empty chairs at this year’s Christmas table.”
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the staff work at passport control so the strike will have a "significant impact". He warned the Government against bringing in the military to cover for the strikes, saying there was not enough time to train them properly.
Mr Serwotka has met Government ministers but he said they were refusing to increase a 2% pay rise. He said: "They keep saying their door is open, but it is a very strange door because there's nothing behind it."
He warned that the PCS will escalate industrial action in the new year unless the deadlock is broken. Mr Serwotka also raised the prospect of co-ordinated action with other unions involved in disputes.
He 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. They are being told there is no money for them, while they watch ministers giving out Government contracts worth billions of pounds to their mates.
"Some sections of the media have accused us of playing politics with these strikes. Let me be clear: our dispute is with the employer. We will fight to improve our members' pay, terms and conditions regardless of who is in Downing Street."
A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Our priority is to ensure passengers get through the border safely and as quickly as possible. We are working closely with airlines and Border Force on mitigation plans for potential strike action by Border Force officers and these plans will now be implemented for the notified days.
"The Home Office advises that immigration and customs checks may take longer during peak times on strike days, and Heathrow will support Border Force to minimise these impacts with the aim of processing passengers through the border as efficiently as possible.
"Passengers are advised to check their flight status with their airline before travelling. We encourage all parties to resolve this dispute quickly."
The airport pointed out that the workers involved in the strikes are employed by the Home Office, not Heathrow. PCS members at the port of Newhaven will also strike on the same days.
Manchester Airport said it would work with airlines to ensure passengers have as much advance notice of cancelled services as possible and warned of “much longer immigration queues”.
A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, we expect it will be necessary for airlines to cancel some services on the days impacted by strike action to ensure the number of arriving passengers aligns with lower UK Border Force resources.
“We will be working with our airlines to provide passengers with as much advance notice of cancelled services as possible, so that people have the chance to rebook their travel around the strike days.
“Arriving passengers should also be prepared for much longer immigration queues on strike days, owing to reduced Border Force staffing levels.”
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