Photo: gov.uk
BY Claire Mom
The United Kingdom says travellers who plan to enter the country from Wednesday should expect flight delays and disruptions.
The development follows a plan by the UK border force to begin a strike on December 23.
The border force is a law enforcement command within the Home Office that secures the UK border by carrying out immigration and customs controls for people and goods entering the country.
More than 1,000 passport control workers who are members of the public and commercial services (PCS) union are expected to join the strike amid a dispute over pay.
As such, travellers who plan to enter the UK during the proposed strike period may face longer wait times at border control.
In a statement on Wednesday, Steve Dann, border force chief operating officer, apologised for the disruptions, adding that the agency’s priority is to keep citizens safe.
“We apologise for any disruption caused to travellers entering the UK. Border Force’s number one priority to is keep our citizens safe and borders secure,” he said.
“We are working together with partners across the travel industry to ensure we can continue to meet critical demand and support the flow of passengers and goods through our border.
“During the periods of industrial action, travellers should be prepared for disruption. We encourage everyone to check the latest advice from your operators before travelling.”
On its part, the UK government said it would train military personnel to step in and “work closely with ports, airports and the travel industry to understand the impact of strike action, to minimise delays for passengers and ensure the flow of goods through the border”.
The border force strike will take place on December 23, 24, 25, 26 (until about 7am), 28, 29, 30, and 31.
The affected locations are listed as Birmingham Airport, Cardiff Airport, Gatwick Airport, Glasgow Airport, Heathrow Airport (terminals 2, 3, 4, 5), Manchester Airport, and Port of Newhaven.
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