Strikes Will See Civil Servants Staff Borders

Forthcoming strikes on public sector pensions will see inexperienced civil servants replacing border staff for the duration of the walk out.

Thousands of border agency staff will be on strike during the 'day of action' on November 30 forcing the Government to use civil servants to man the border posts.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has insisted the civil servants will be properly trained.

The news comes one of the leading unions for border workers says recent job cuts in UKBA have left the agency unable to cope despite its warnings.

The PCS union accused UKBA senior management and ministers of enforcing a "culture of no dissent", which has meant genuine concerns and criticism were suppressed.

Meanwhile, two senior PCS reps - Mark Hammond and Sue Kendal - who were sacked last year after leading opposition to the government's cuts will be speaking at a meeting in committee room 10 at 2pm.

The union said 1,700 jobs were cut in UKBA in the last year, with another 5,200 planned to go by 2015. The union linked the cuts to the scandal involving the Home Secretary Teresa May's apparent relaxation of border controls.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka, who will speak at the meeting, said: "We have consistently warned about the serious impact of cuts on UKBA and other areas of our public services.

"Problems now bubbling to the surface must be addressed, cuts must be reversed."

Also on Thursday, Labour's Yvette Cooper accused the Theresa May of reducing counter-terror powers and resources, at a time when we know the pressures are growing.

"It is a deep concern that the Home Secretary herself is choosing to increase the risks in Olympic year. I urge her not to take unnecessary risks with security – she can do this by backing our amendment when the Bill returns to the House of Commons.”

(DW)