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Jeremy Hunt: Olympics wrong time for PCS border staff strike PCS union calls off pre-Olympics border staff strike
(about 1 hour later)
The government is urging Border Agency workers not to hold a strike on the eve of the Olympics, arguing it is the "wrong time". A strike which threatened to disrupt immigration controls on the eve of the Olympics has been called off after progress in peace talks.
Immigration and passport workers at Heathrow and other airports are among those due to take action on Thursday in protest against job cuts. The PCS union had been planning the action in protest at job losses.
But ministers are seeking a High Court injunction against the PCS union, saying there were "procedural errors" in its ballot. Ministers argued that "procedural errors" with the ballot meant it should not go ahead.
Labour has also warned against strikes. PCS leader Mark Serwotka said "major progress" had been made in talks, with 1,100 jobs to be created. The Home Office welcomed the PCS decision.
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.
'Seen sense'
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.
'Thinking hard' Mr Serwotka said: "We are not ending our dispute today... what we have done is not call action in the next few weeks."
But Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This is just the wrong time to pursue a grievance. If Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats can work together to make the Olympics a success, then even our most militant unions can recognise that this is not the right moment." He added: "These are professional frontline staff who want to be able to serve the public and have the resources to do so."
He said: "For an immigration officer - and I'm sure the vast majority of immigration officers feel this way - Thursday is one of the biggest days in their professional career. Mr Serwotka said there there would now be "significant" investment in 1,100 permanent new jobs, and criticised the government for not announcing the news.
Ministers had sought a High Court injunction against the PCS, saying there were "procedural errors" in its ballot, relating to 12 union members working in Brussels and Paris.
The union announced the cancellation of action around 45 minutes before the court hearing was due to begin.
The Home Office welcomed the announcement, saying the PCS had "seen sense" and that it would work to resolve the differences.
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."
Earlier, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC: "This is just the wrong time to pursue a grievance. If Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats can work together to make the Olympics a success, then even our most militant unions can recognise that this is not the right moment."
He added: "For an immigration officer - and I'm sure the vast majority of immigration officers feel this way - Thursday is one of the biggest days in their professional career.
"It is the day when the eyes of the world will be upon them and the welcome we are giving to the rest of the world."It is the day when the eyes of the world will be upon them and the welcome we are giving to the rest of the world.
"The vast majority of them will want to do a really good job and show what they are capable of.""The vast majority of them will want to do a really good job and show what they are capable of."
He added: "We need 550 people to maintain a full immigration desk policy at Heathrow which means we can get people through in the shortest possible time and we have 584 shifts now confirmed for Thursday, despite the strike."
In a statement, the Home Office said it believed "there was a procedural error in the PCS ballot" and it would be challenging it in the High Court - a request due to be heard later on Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was fair for unions to raise issues with the government but "to mess up the Olympics for everybody else, I just think is not fair - it's a bit cynical".
Sources in the union told the BBC they would "robustly challenge" the injunction.
They said they were "confident" they had conducted the strike ballot legally and will be able to proceed with the strike. If the government was successful in the High Court, then the union would be obliged to re-ballot its members.
The government insists contingency plans are in place in the event of industrial action.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said there would still be "ample provision" of staff at Heathrow to "keep the system moving".
He added: "Probably most people who work for the Borders Agency are very, very keen to get behind Team GB, support the Olympics, and I think they are going to be thinking hard about whether to go with the leadership [of the PCS] and the small minority who voted for the strike."
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.
The PCS is one of the largest unions in the UK with around 250,000 public sector members. The PCS is one of the largest unions in the UK, with around 250,000 public sector members.
PCS members at the Department for Transport have been taking industrial action over the past few weeks, while staff in other departments, including the ministries of defence and justice, are set to vote shortly on how to campaign against cuts.PCS members at the Department for Transport have been taking industrial action over the past few weeks, while staff in other departments, including the ministries of defence and justice, are set to vote shortly on how to campaign against cuts.