Britain could be rendered defenceless against the migrant crisis as the organisation responsible for policing the English Channel is set to go on strike.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) will take industrial action on November 14.
120 Border Force Maritime workers, who patrol British waters, will walk out, potentially allowing opportunistic people smugglers free rein of the Channel crossing.
The workers are protesting frozen allowances and changes to terms and conditions that remain unaddressed.
As well as patrolling for smuggling or unauthorised entry into the UK, the workers also board vessels for inspection.
They are on call to immediately respond to incidents in British waters, such as small boat crossings.
They also liaise with special forces on counter-terrorism, piracy, and narcotics operations.
The PCS union describes the burden of their workers as “dangerous, complex, demanding and sometimes harrowing”.
Border Force maritime workers are set to go on strike in November
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PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said that: “Our dedicated members in Border Force Maritime have waited far too long for fair recognition of the vital and dangerous work they do.
“This strike sends a clear message to the Home Office: we will not accept continued delays and inadequate proposals.
“We stand ready to escalate if necessary,” she warned.
For their part, the Home Office commended the Border Force for their “tireless commitment and dedication every single day to keep our borders safe and secure”.
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The PCS union describes the burden of their workers as: 'dangerous, complex, demanding and sometimes harrowing'
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“We always have robust plans in place to minimise disruption and uphold UK border security, and those plans remain unchanged,” a spokesman said.
The dispute flows from what the PCS claims is a “significant variety” in allowances for staff, despite performing the same duties.
Six years ago, the Home Office began a review to address the need for standardisation of remuneration for staff, but it has yet to bear fruit, and workers remain locked in different sets of terms.
The Home Office has proposed a move to Annualised Hours Allowance, which compensates for unusual and demanding shift patterns, but it has been argued to not fully account for the complexity of the job.
The strike could pile further pressure on the Government's efforts to control Channel crossings
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Despite lengthy talks, deadlines have passed, leading to next month’s strike action.
The walk-outs will pile further pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Government and its ability to handle the migrant crisis.
This year, some 37,000 migrants have crossed over the English Channel.
It represented a 25 per cent rise over the same period last year and marginally lower than the record in 2022.
Sir Keir has vowed to “smash” people smuggling gangs as part of a pledge to cut the number of Channel crossings by 2029.
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