Day of travel chaos looms as immigration staff strike
Thousands of air, sea and channel tunnel travellers could experience delays from 6pm tonight as the majority of UK Border Agency staff join the mass public sector walk out.
The agency has written to airlines advising that their passengers should “travel on an alternative day†to avoid the disruption although for many, tickets were booked long ago.
But passengers travelling through UK sea ports and the channel tunnel will also be affected as some 70% of UKBA staff are members of the striking Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).
The strike, which starts this evening and continues until midnight on Thursday, has been organised by four unions protesting about public sector pension reform and will also see millions of parents having to make childcare plans for tomorrow when schools across the country shut down.
There have been suggestions that as immigration staff walk out, the country’s security will also be weakened as back office staff and managers struggle to keep a lid on the chaos.
The disruption will be compounded by the current 48-hour strike by Greek air traffic controllers who walked out this morning between 5am and 9am and who will strike again between 3pm and 7pm.
Easyjet has advised passengers of disruption to flights in and out of Greece while Ryanair has already cancelled a flight to the country today. British Airways has re-scheduled two flights to Athens from London today.
Parisian taxi drivers are also carrying out industrial action today so passengers arriving into the capital should expect transfer delays.
Dinah
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