Border Force employees who work on boats patrolling the English Channel are being balloted over strike action in a dispute over terms, conditions and “frozen” allowances.
The vote covers around 120 members of the PCS union whose jobs involve searching for vessels at sea and identifying craft engaged in smuggling or small-boat crossings.
PCS, which is the civil service’s biggest union, said the Border Force Maritime members had been waiting for more than six years for the result of a payment review into allowances for their specialist roles.
PCS acknowledged that Border Force management had given assurances that some of the allowances at the heart of the dispute would be backdated to April this year.
However the union said it could be months before the extra payments are received and added that Border Force’s leadership had failed to “fully recognise” members’ demands.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said members at Border Force Maritime had been treated unacceptably.
“It is a disgrace that our members have been waiting six years for this situation to be resolved,” she said.
“Although it's shameful that managers need a strike ballot to focus their minds, it's clear that our members are not prepared to be messed around any longer.”
Civil Service World sought a response from the Home Office, which is responsible for Border Force.
A spokesperson said: “We appreciate the tireless work that Border Force do to protect our borders and we are continuing to engage with the union. Our top priority is to keep the border safe and secure.”
The Border Force Maritime ballot opened last week and runs to 17 October.