Passport workers walk out
Seven out of 10 Passport Office staff go on strike today – causing further disruption to the application process which already has a huge backlog.
The Home Office has criticised members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union who are striking over staff shortages and pay.
There is currently a serious backlog in processing applications. In June alone, the Passport Office received nearly 800,000 applications.
Before that, extra staff had been drafted in to help shift the 30,000 passports awaiting processing.
A Home Office spokesman said the timing of the strike could affect people’s summer holidays.
"Holding a strike at this stage is irresponsible and will only inconvenience our customers and jeopardise their holidays," he said.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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