Chaos on Easter trips as Border Police guards threaten strike at Heathrow during busy festive season

BRIT holidaymakers are facing Easter travel chaos as staff at Britain’s busiest airport threaten to strike.

Hundreds of employees Heathrow Airport could run out in the coming weeks, creating a nightmare for families flying to and from their next holiday.

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More than 600 employees are currently voting on whether or not to strike Easter period of time.

Border Patrol guards are considering industrial action after hearing that workers’ shifts may change, and have until March 22 to make an appeal.

They claimed that staff schedules and shifts would be changed, angering workers.

If staff choose to walk out, it will likely impact families trying to fly home after their Easter holidays.

Fran Heathcote, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU), said: “Our members at Heathrow are united in their opposition to these draconian plans.

“One aspect of the plans would force workers to choose between finding another job or losing their benefits.

“Another would see others having to sign up for new, tiring shifts or leave altogether.

“This is an appalling way to treat dedicated, long-serving staff, so it is no wonder we have recruited hundreds of members in recent weeks.”

Heathrow Airport told the newspaper Telegraph they would work with staff to try to reduce chaos for passengers should the walkout go ahead.

Legally, the earliest the strike could take place is April 5, which would create a nightmare for families returning from outings.

It comes as the railway minister admitted this week nothing the government can do to ensure minimum service levels are implemented during train strikes.

Huw Merriman said train companies may never use it recently law introduced to minimize the impact of industrial action.

The last strikes were intended as the first test of the legislation, designed to ensure train operators could operate 40% of services.

But none of the railway companies took advantage of it, having succumbed to the pressure of union threats.

Asked what the purpose of the legislation was, Mr Merriman told the House of Commons Transport Commission: “It is our job to do everything we can to ensure that a minimum service level can be used.

“The decision whether to use them is up to the employer. And so far they have decided not to.”