25.07.12
Border staff Olympic strike suspended
A union strike involving members of immigration and passport control due tomorrow has been called off. The industrial action was planned to take place on Thursday, the day before the Olympic Games.
Thursday is expected to be the busiest day ever at Heathrow airport, as spectators fly in for the event.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka announced the suspension of the strike after ‘major progress’ had been made in talks with Government. Officials have confirmed significant investment in the border force and passport service, which would lead to over 1,000 new jobs being created, he said.
Recruitment for 800 jobs at the borders and 300 in passport service is already underway by the Home Office, the union added.
Serwotka said: “These new jobs are a welcome step towards a recognition that the Home Office has been cracking under the strain of massive job losses, and that the answer is not more cuts but more investment.”
He added that he was “pleased” to be able to avert a strike ahead of the Olympics, but declared it was “deeply regrettable that ministers allowed this dispute to escalate.”
“I hope ministers will now take this opportunity to engage with us in meaningful negotiations to ensure these essential public services are maintained and improved long into the future, not just for the Olympics,” he concluded.
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