The United Kingdom’s border defences at sea were operating with a skeleton crew today as more than 120 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union walked out from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (GMT) on 1 December. The strike, confined to Border Force Maritime staff, follows an earlier stoppage on 14 November that left several patrol vessels tied up in port. Union members say a six-year stalemate over specialist sea-duty allowances and an unaddressed overhaul of terms and conditions have left them “furious and undervalued.”
Border Force Maritime officers crew the cutters and coastal patrol craft that intercept small-boat crossings in the Channel, board freight and passenger vessels for immigration checks, and support counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations. During the 12-hour walk-out, the Home Office redeployed land-based Border Force staff and requested Royal Navy assistance to ensure a minimum presence at sea, but insiders acknowledged that proactive patrol capacity was “significantly reduced.” Ferry operators at Dover and freight handlers at major ports such as Felixstowe reported minor delays to inbound cargo inspections; operators of limited-stop Channel services cancelled two sailings as a precaution.
![Border Force Maritime officers stage one-day strike, raising concerns over UK coastal security and cargo delays]()
The dispute centres on “frozen” allowances worth up to £5,000 a year for sea-going duties. PCS says officers have waited more than six years for the conclusion of an allowance review, while colleagues in aviation and freight posts have seen uplifts. Ninety-six per cent of balloted members backed strike action, with 95 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. PCS officials accuse the Home Office of repeatedly missing negotiation deadlines: “Our members run towards danger on the high seas. They should not be running backwards in real-terms pay,” said PCS national officer Paul O’Connor.
For employers moving goods or personnel by sea, today’s stoppage is a reminder of the UK’s vulnerability to labour unrest at critical border nodes. Multinationals with just-in-time supply chains were advised to monitor further PCS announcements; the union has threatened rolling 12-hour actions over Christmas if talks do not progress. Companies reliant on temporary duty or rotational staff arriving by ferry were urged to factor in possible disembarkation delays and to keep proof of right-to-work documents on hand in case secondary checks are reinstated when full staffing returns.
The Home Office said it “regrets any disruption” and insisted national security would not be compromised. Nevertheless, the walk-out landed at a politically sensitive moment: new small-boat arrival figures are due next week, and ministers are keen to demonstrate firm control of UK borders ahead of the holiday travel peak. A negotiated settlement before the next strike window on 17 December now looks critical to avoiding further reputational damage and logistical headaches for business travellers and freight operators alike.
Border Force Maritime officers crew the cutters and coastal patrol craft that intercept small-boat crossings in the Channel, board freight and passenger vessels for immigration checks, and support counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations. During the 12-hour walk-out, the Home Office redeployed land-based Border Force staff and requested Royal Navy assistance to ensure a minimum presence at sea, but insiders acknowledged that proactive patrol capacity was “significantly reduced.” Ferry operators at Dover and freight handlers at major ports such as Felixstowe reported minor delays to inbound cargo inspections; operators of limited-stop Channel services cancelled two sailings as a precaution.
The dispute centres on “frozen” allowances worth up to £5,000 a year for sea-going duties. PCS says officers have waited more than six years for the conclusion of an allowance review, while colleagues in aviation and freight posts have seen uplifts. Ninety-six per cent of balloted members backed strike action, with 95 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. PCS officials accuse the Home Office of repeatedly missing negotiation deadlines: “Our members run towards danger on the high seas. They should not be running backwards in real-terms pay,” said PCS national officer Paul O’Connor.
For employers moving goods or personnel by sea, today’s stoppage is a reminder of the UK’s vulnerability to labour unrest at critical border nodes. Multinationals with just-in-time supply chains were advised to monitor further PCS announcements; the union has threatened rolling 12-hour actions over Christmas if talks do not progress. Companies reliant on temporary duty or rotational staff arriving by ferry were urged to factor in possible disembarkation delays and to keep proof of right-to-work documents on hand in case secondary checks are reinstated when full staffing returns.
The Home Office said it “regrets any disruption” and insisted national security would not be compromised. Nevertheless, the walk-out landed at a politically sensitive moment: new small-boat arrival figures are due next week, and ministers are keen to demonstrate firm control of UK borders ahead of the holiday travel peak. A negotiated settlement before the next strike window on 17 December now looks critical to avoiding further reputational damage and logistical headaches for business travellers and freight operators alike.
