5,500 immigration officials to strike on London Olympics eve

PanARMENIAN.Net - Up to 5,500 immigration officials will strike next Thursday, July 26, in a dispute about job cuts and pay, disrupting nearly 130,000 passengers as they arrive the day before the Olympic opening ceremony, The Telegraph reported.

The striking workers, from the Public and Commercial Services union, will take further industrial action during the rest of the Games by refusing to work overtime.

Last night, senior Conservative MPs accused the union of “holding the country to ransom” as ministers privately questioned the legitimacy of the industrial action. Just a fifth of the union’s 16,000 members voted, with 57 per cent of them in favor.

The striking workers, from the Public and Commercial Services union, will take further industrial action during the rest of the Games by refusing to work overtime.

Last night, senior Conservative MPs accused the union of “holding the country to ransom” as ministers privately questioned the legitimacy of the industrial action. Just a fifth of the union’s 16,000 members voted, with 57 per cent of them in favor.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said the action is “shameful” as officials drew up contingency plans to draft in civil servants to man immigration desks.

She said: “They are holding a strike on what is one of the key days for people coming into this country for the Olympic Games. I believe it is not right for them to hold a strike. They will risk damaging people’s enjoyment of coming through into the UK.”

During the height of the summer, Heathrow would expect up to 107,000 passengers arriving at the airport, compared with the 126,000 expected on Thursday.

The Border Force is hoping that “hit squads” of up to 500 extra immigration officials from other parts of Whitehall will help to cover the extra demand, but it is unclear how many of them are also union members.

David Cameron criticized the decision by PCS to stage a strike, which will also cause disruption to other parts of the Home Office.