Eight out of ten of Border Force workers at Heathrow Airport are suffering stress or anxiety at work, according to a new survey by PCS.
Some 650 of its members working in passport control at Heathrow terminals 2,3,4 and 5 will be staging a four-day walkout from tomorrow. They will then work-to-rule and refuse to work overtime from 4-22 September. The strike is the latest stage in a long-running dispute triggered by the introduction of new rosters, which were attacked by the union as inflexible earlier this year.
A PCS survey showing the toll that the new working arrangements are taking on staff at Heathrow, released today, reveals that the majority (79 per cent) of respondents are regularly anxious or stressed because of work.
More than a quarter (27%) of the 256 staff who responded to the survey said they had taken time off due to work-related stress or related mental health issues since the introduction of the new rosters in April.
The majority (79%) of respondents reported feeling pressured to work longer hours than they wanted to, and almost nine out of ten (88%) said they regularly worry about balancing home and work commitments.
Just 6% said they feel supported at work, and less than one in 20 (4%) said they trust senior managers to make good decisions about their working environment, according to the PCS poll.
One survey respondent commented: “New longer shifts are affecting my mental and physical health. I feel tired, overworked and stressed. Even on my days off I keep on thinking about the next working day with a negative feeling and don’t want to go back to work.”
Another respondent stated: “I have never been so tired all the time. The longer shifts, the shift pattern and the exhausting work and pressure due to lack of staff can not continue.”
Another said: “My life revolves around work now. I cannot drop off or pick up children from school, so my partner is having to reduce hours at work to manage school pick ups and drop offs. Don’t see my children for 3-4 days straight on late shifts. Very challenging for family. Mentally and physically draining.”
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “This survey shows how badly our members’ wellbeing is being affected by the new roster system. These inflexible rosters are preventing parents dropping off and picking up their children from school.”
She added: “Managers could easily resolve the issue by allowing greater flexibility and by agreeing fixed shifts that give our members the chance to plan their caring responsibilities.”
Responding to the union’s concerns over the impact of the new working arrangements on Border Force officials, a Home Office spokesperson said: “We appreciate the tireless work that Border Force do to keep our borders safe and secure, and we are committed to continuing our conversations with the union so we can find an agreement that works for both the public and staff.”
They added: “We will have robust plans in place to minimise disruption where possible, but we urge passengers to check the latest advice from operators before they travel.”
Heathrow told CSW that it is working to support Border Force’s plans to mitigate against any disruption at the airport during the current industrial action.