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Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for travel and there is usually some form of disruption due to the sheer number of passengers. For 2022 however, the biggest threat to your travel plans could be strikes — and there are quite a few on the horizon. Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union have just voted to strike, which could involve border force agents as well as those working for the Passport Office. There’s also a Royal Mail strike that could delay the delivery of your travel documents along with potential train strikes. Here’s what you need to know.
Main photo: Immigration and passport control at Heathrow Airport, London (Alamy)
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Are border force agents going on strike?
Possibly. Two different unions representing border force workers have ballotted their members on strike action.
The ISU (Immigration Service Union), which represents staff working for border control, immigration and customs services, announced on November 3 that although its members voted overwhelmingly for strike action, it didn’t get the 50 per cent turnout required for a successful strike mandate so a strike cannot be called. It’s now considering its next steps.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents civil servants in general, including those working for the DVLA, Home Office and the Foreign Office, also balloted its members but the results varied. The Foreign Office didn’t get a high enough turn out, for example, while the DVLA and the Home Office (which oversees the Passport Office) did, which means that only some departments will be striking if a strike is called. At the moment the union is awaiting a response from the government — it then must give at least two weeks’ notice of any strike action.
Will the strikes cause passport delays?
Again, possibly.
No strike has been called yet by the PCS and it’s not clear how many of the Home Office union members are working in the Passport Office. However, there are already delays at the Passport Office due to the unprecedented demand for new travel documents since Covid. In the last update, the department said that wait times can be up to ten weeks.
In addition, there are Royal Mail strikes that could affect delivery.
When are postal workers striking?
The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents Royal Mail workers, has formally called for strikes on November 24 and 25. It will involve workers who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters. On strike days, letters will not be delivered and Royal Mail says it will try to deliver as many Special Delivery and Tracked 24 parcels as possible.
Will train strikes affect your Christmas travel plans?
Members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) will be going on strike on November 26, which will affect 12 rail companies. These are: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, London North Eastern Railway, London Overground, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Transpennine Express and West Midlands Trains. There will be limited service on this day, if any at all. Services on days either side may also be affected.
Although the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union called off its strikes in November, it’s currently re-balloting its members on a future strike. It means there could still be disruption ahead of Christmas.
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