Border Force personnel, who verify passports at the United Kingdom’s borders, will go on strike over the holiday season to demand higher pay.
At Heathrow and Gatwick airports, troops have begun training for passport-checking jobs in anticipation of a strike by Border Force personnel over the Christmas holiday.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed that members of the armed services arrived at London’s two major airports earlier this week.
Wednesday, the PCS union stated that Border Force officers will go on strike at airports from December 23-26 and 28-31 after rejecting a 2% pay increase offer from the government.
Additionally, they will go on strike at the airports in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Manchester, as well as the port of Newhaven.
Approximately 75% of passport control workers are PCS members, implying that the majority of passport control staff will go on strike.
This week, the Cabinet Office announced that up to 600 military soldiers and 700 civil officials are being trained to cover a variety of services, including the Border Force at airports and ports, in the event of a strike.
The Home Office has warned that the strikes will likely cause longer lines at passport control during one of the busiest times of the year for airport travel.
Before traveling, airports have recommended passengers verify the status of their flights.
On Friday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak paid a visit to an RAF installation, where he thanked military men for stepping in and missing Christmas.
He stated, “We all owe them a great debt of gratitude.”
He stated that his top priority is to “protect lives and minimize disruption to people’s lives,” but the government will always “attempt to behave fairly and reasonably” about public sector compensation.
“I will not expect regular families across the country to pay an additional £1,000 per year to meet the pay demands of union executives. It would be wrong and unfair to do so “he remarked.
The employment of troops to protect striking workers has been controversial, with senior military officials stating that they should not be forced to miss Christmas.
Armed services personnel are barred by law from striking themselves and most troops are already paid less than those going on strike, while their pay ranges have not kept up with inflation.
A senior army official told the Telegraph the administration is now calling for the Armed Forces “every time there is any crisis, whether it’s flooded, strikes…as opposed to it being the final choice”.
Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence Committee and former Army captain and Tory MP stated that it would throw a “great load” on the military.
Earlier this week, the government said military soldiers, civil workers, and volunteers are being trained to provide a range of services as numerous industries are likely to be rocked by strike action this December.
On Sunday, Conservative Party Chairman Nadhim Zahawi told, the government had yet to decide on whether to deploy armed forces troops but indicated it was considering having them work on UK borders.
Military men were previously employed to drive petrol tankers and deliver COVID shots during the outbreak.
Rail workers, bus drivers, road workers, baggage handlers, Royal Mail employees, nurses, driving examiners, civil servants, ambulance personnel, and teachers are also on strike during the holiday season.
