PRESS RELEASE : Strike action to affect travellers entering the UK [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 12 December 2022.

The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union has announced Civil Service industrial action that will impact Border Force services.

The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union has announced Civil Service industrial action that will impact Border Force services.

Border Force strike proposed dates and locations

Dates:

• 23 December
• 24 December
• 25 December
• 26 December (until about 7am)
• 28 December
• 29 December
• 30 December
• 31 December (until about 7am)

Locations:

• Birmingham Airport
• Cardiff Airport
• Gatwick Airport
• Glasgow Airport
• Heathrow Airport – Terminals 2,3,4 and 5
• Manchester Airport
• Port of Newhaven

Our number one priority is to keep our borders safe and secure for all travellers, and we will never compromise on this.

Military personnel, civil servants and volunteers from across government are being trained to support Border Force at airports and ports across the UK in the event of potential strike action. Border Force are ready to deploy resource to meet critical demand and support flow travellers through the border, however those entering the UK should be prepared for potential disruption.

Border Force and the travel industry work together very closely at a local and national level to agree plans for pressures while keeping the public safe.

Advice for passengers

Those who are due to travel into the UK during the proposed industrial action should be prepared to face longer wait times at UK border control.

All passengers should check the latest advice from their operators before travelling.

Please be patient and respect officers who are working to keep our citizens safe and border secure, and supporting travellers during the strike action.

We encourage all passengers eligible to use eGates to do so.

Please respect staff as we try and get you through the border as quickly and safely as possible. All forms of abuse and any inappropriate behaviour will be reported to the UK police.

Flights – impact of industrial action

We will work with operators and ports to understand the impact of industrial action on inbound flights.

Passengers travelling into the UK during strikes should check with their airlines for the latest travel information and advice.

Border wait times

As you’d expect, accurate queue time data can take some time to gather and check, however if you are travelling during the proposed strike dates be prepared for longer wait times.

There are multiple factors that might influence wait times including an increase in passenger numbers, flight delays and flight bunching. Weather delays, and other ad hoc incidents, can also impact border control queues.

We advise travellers to check with travel agents, tour operators, and airlines/carriers before travelling, to check if the proposed strike action will affect your journey.

Passengers can also check airport websites before travelling to stay up to date with the latest information related to travel or possible delays caused by strike action.

What we are doing to avoid disruption and queues at the border during the strike action

We continue to work closely with port operators and airlines to minimise disruption and delays at the border during any industrial action.

Border Force and the travel industry work together very closely at a local and national level and have regular meetings to agree plans for pressures while keeping the public safe.

Remember:

• there are often a few things that might influence wait times including an increase in passenger numbers, flights delays and flight bunching
• you should check the latest advice from your operators before travelling