Border Force staff to strike at airports including Heathrow and Gatwick over Christmas

Mr Serwotka revealed he had written to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the Armed Forces, on Tuesday to warn him it would be an outrage and affront to travellers to use the military to break the strike. “I made it clear that we think it would be an outrage if the British Armed Forces, who surely have far better things to do, are essentially brought in to strike break for public sector workers on poverty pay without adequate training,” he said. “The idea that the military, in full military dress, will be there to meet people at passport checks at our airports is an affront to not just the people coming to this country, but actually to the skilled jobs of the workers who take a lot of training that they think they can replace with only three minutes training.” “The idea that the military, in full military dress, will be there to meet people at passport checks at our airports is an affront to not just the people coming to this country, but actually to the skilled jobs of the workers who take a lot of training that they think they can replace with only three minutes training.” Mr Serwotka has met Government ministers but said they were refusing to increase a two per cent pay rise. He warned that the PCS would escalate industrial action in the New Year unless the deadlock was broken, indicating that the most likely targets for action would be the Driving Vehicle Licensing Authority, responsible for driving licences, and the Passport Office. “Clearly, if unions chose to do that it would be the most significant industrial action in a decade.” He said he would support such a move.