Border Force officers are balloting to strike over pay that could lead to lengthy queues at airports and ports over Christmas.
The ISU union representing 3,500 Border Force, immigration enforcement and visa officers is threatening industrial action in support of an 8% pay claim. The move comes shortly after they rejected a 3% offer from the Home Office.
Mark Gribbin, the ISU’s general secretary, said the union was considering a "longer period" of industrial action over the Christmas and New Year period. He added the strikes would also be targeted at Channel migrant work and border ports, which are key to the importation of Christmas goods and food supplies.
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The union has made clear it will not take any action that would jeopardise national security which means checks will continue at UK borders but they could take longer, leading to queues and force the call-up of police and military officers to handle the Channel migrant crisis.
Tony Smith, a former Border Force director general, warned there was a risk that national security could be compromised by the strike. He said: "It is very worrying. If the Border Force cutter crews come out on strike, you could potentially stop meeting the small boats in the Channel. If you are not able to stop them at sea, they will be arriving on the beaches."
As a key public service, more than 50% of the members have to vote in the ballot, which is due to close on October 31. In order to secure a mandate for strike action, more than 40% of the membership also has to vote in favour of industrial action.
An indicative ballot has already suggested that members will back the action. Its previous industrial action was in 1984 and 2012 over pay and pensions. Mr Gribbin said: "We are deeply saddened and frustrated that things have reached this point.
"We have offered the Home Office every opportunity to enter into meaningful dialogue. They have repeatedly refused to engage with our eight per cent pay claim.
"The Home Office position is intransigent, unreasonable and disrespectful. We have now exhausted all options short of industrial action to carry forward our pay campaign.”
He added: "There will be a focus on our border ports and on Channel migrant work. We are also considering a longer period of industrial action over the Christmas and New Year period."
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