Passengers at British airports were warned of delays due to the first day of strike, expected to last until New Year.
Passport control staff walked out on Friday, however, London’s Heathrow and Gatwick have reportedly not yet seen any major disruptions.
Heathrow, which is also Britain’s busiest airport, reported “minimal queuing” at its arrivals area.
Meanwhile Gatwick, which is Britain’s second busiest, said passengers should expect longer wait times at passport control until New Year’s Eve.
According to Reuters, the Public and Commercial Services Union said over 1,000 Border Force staff, employed by the government, were expecting to strike.
“They are following nurses, paramedics, and workers in the rail and postal sectors in the biggest wave of industrial action over pay and conditions in Britain for decades,” the report said.
The union also said that Border Force members were offered a 2 percent pay rise, far below inflation that stood at November’s 10.7 percent.
Border Force extended their apologies for any disruption for travellers entering Britain. The force also added that it was working with partners across the travel industry, in order to support the inflow of passengers and goods.
“We …anticipate some disruption, but flights are operating normally, arrivals and departures, and we expect that to continue,” Adam Jones, head of passenger operations, told Sky News.
The strike is scheduled to occur until December 31, excluding the 27th, however, the government said it was “training members of the armed forces and government officials to help staff passport controls at airports and ports,” the report said.
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