EDM: Border Force industrial dispute

Border Force industrial dispute

Tabled by Olivia Blake (Labour) 16 signatures

The motion

That this House commends the work of Border Force officers patrolling UK waters, whose duties include searching for and identifying vessels at sea engaged in smuggling or small-boat crossings; notes with concern that these workers are remunerated in different and inconsistent ways under a variety of frameworks, some dating back over 25 years, resulting in some staff earning less than others for exactly the same duties; further notes with concern that the Maritime Skills Allowance has not been raised in 10 years, and that workers are locked into two very different allowance-based schemes; also notes that the Home Office started a review six years ago to consolidate all staff into a single model, and that the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), which represents Border Force staff, launched a trade dispute in 2024 because of the slow pace of this review; regrets that the Home Office has missed several deadlines while carrying out this review, including a commitment to provide a formal proposal to PCS by 6 October 2025; notes the 80% turnout and 96% vote in favour of strike action by over 120 PCS Border Force members in a ballot for industrial action that closed on 17 October 2025; and calls on the Government to end this dispute by instructing the Home Office to present its formal proposal to PCS immediately, to negotiate with the union in good faith, and to compensate Border Force staff for any financial loss suffered due to delays with this review.

Signatories (16)