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PCS union calls off pre-Olympics border staff strike PCS union calls off pre-Olympics border staff strike
(about 6 hours later)
A strike which threatened to disrupt immigration controls on the eve of the Olympics has been called off after progress in peace talks.A strike which threatened to disrupt immigration controls on the eve of the Olympics has been called off after progress in peace talks.
The PCS union had been planning the action in protest at job losses.The PCS union had been planning the action in protest at job losses.
Ministers argued that "procedural errors" with the ballot meant it should not go ahead.Ministers argued that "procedural errors" with the ballot meant it should not go ahead.
PCS leader Mark Serwotka said "major progress" had been made in talks, with 1,100 jobs to be created, but the government denied changing its stance. PCS leader Mark Serwotka said "major progress" had been made in talks, and 1,100 jobs will be created, but the government has denied this.
Immigration and passport workers at Heathrow and other airports had been among those due to take action on Thursday.Immigration and passport workers at Heathrow and other airports had been among those due to take action on Thursday.
In a ballot earlier this month, 57% of PCS members taking part voted for industrial action - although ministers say only 12% of total union members participated.In a ballot earlier this month, 57% of PCS members taking part voted for industrial action - although ministers say only 12% of total union members participated.
About 16,000 union members were balloted across the Home Office, including in the Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau.About 16,000 union members were balloted across the Home Office, including in the Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "We are pleased that the PCS leadership has seen sense and called off this irresponsible strike which was not supported by the majority of members."
'Fig leaf''Fig leaf'
The PCS says 8,500 Home Office jobs are at risk as a result of government cuts, including the threat of compulsory redundancies at passport control and immigration offices.The PCS says 8,500 Home Office jobs are at risk as a result of government cuts, including the threat of compulsory redundancies at passport control and immigration offices.
Mr Serwotka said: "We are not ending our dispute today. What we have done is not call action in the next few weeks."Mr Serwotka said: "We are not ending our dispute today. What we have done is not call action in the next few weeks."
He added: "These are professional frontline staff who want to be able to serve the public and have the resources to do so."He added: "These are professional frontline staff who want to be able to serve the public and have the resources to do so."
Mr Serwotka said there there would now be "significant" investment in 1,100 permanent new jobs - 800 at the Border Agency and 300 in passport offices - and criticised the government for not announcing the news. Mr Serwotka announced there there would now be "significant" investment in 1,100 permanent new jobs - 800 at the Border Agency and 300 in passport offices.
But immigration minister Damian Green said he did "not recognise that figure at all". The PCS said recruitment adverts had been placed for the jobs at sites including Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports.
He told BBC News: "They knew the strike was irresponsible and likely to be destructive... I'm glad to say the government has not made any concessions at all. I'm glad the union has taken this decision." 'Administrative error'
On the PCS's claim that new jobs were being created following the talks, Mr Green said: "It's quite clear that the union leadership need some kind of fig leaf for their climbdown." The Home Office later said there had been an "administrative error" in the advertisements and 400 posts in total were being offered.
Job numbers A spokesman added the recruitment drive for additional staff, which began in May, was part of existing plans to restructure the Border Force.
However, the union said recruitment adverts had been placed for the jobs at sites including Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said he understood the adverts for 800 jobs were placed but had not been "signed off" by ministers.
BBC News has also seen two internal Civil Service documents, each appearing to advertise 400 jobs in the Border Force. Mr Serwotka said the Home Office's claim it mistakenly advertised the jobs was "shambolic or a deliberate lie".
The href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/101039901/Border-Force-Jobs-Advert" >first says there are 400 permanent vacancies for Border Force officers at executive officer grades, operating checkpoints at ports and airports across England and Scotland. This is in line with what union officials said at their press conference. He added the adverts were posted "one day after we called a strike then dangled in front of staff to try to dissuade them from taking action" and said the jobs should be honoured.
The second says there are 400 job vacancies at administrative officer level, also with Border Force, to be members of front-line staff.
But the Home Office later said there had been an "administrative error" in the advertisements and there were 400 posts in total being offered.
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said he understood the 800 figure had not been "signed off" by ministers before the adverts were published and the number of vacancies to be filled would be considerably lower.
'Good news''Good news'
Prior to the strike's cancellation, ministers had sought a High Court injunction to prevent the stoppages, saying there were "procedural errors" in the PCS's ballot, relating to 12 union members working in Brussels and Paris.Prior to the strike's cancellation, ministers had sought a High Court injunction to prevent the stoppages, saying there were "procedural errors" in the PCS's ballot, relating to 12 union members working in Brussels and Paris.
The union announced the cancellation around 45 minutes before the court hearing was due to begin.The union announced the cancellation around 45 minutes before the court hearing was due to begin.
Labour also opposed the strike, and shadow chancellor Ed Balls told the BBC: "This is good news. The Games are now the priority and let's hope they are a big success for Britain."Labour also opposed the strike, and shadow chancellor Ed Balls told the BBC: "This is good news. The Games are now the priority and let's hope they are a big success for Britain."
A spokeswoman for airports operator BAA said: "We welcome the decision by the PCS to call off tomorrow's strike.A spokeswoman for airports operator BAA said: "We welcome the decision by the PCS to call off tomorrow's strike.
"So far passengers arriving for the Olympics have had a smooth journey through Heathrow and it is great news that those arriving tomorrow can also expect a warm welcome to London and the Games.""So far passengers arriving for the Olympics have had a smooth journey through Heathrow and it is great news that those arriving tomorrow can also expect a warm welcome to London and the Games."
Earlier this month, the government's spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, said the UK Border Agency had laid off 1,000 more staff than intended and was having to hire extra people and increase overtime to meet its workload.Earlier this month, the government's spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, said the UK Border Agency had laid off 1,000 more staff than intended and was having to hire extra people and increase overtime to meet its workload.