SCOTS holidaymakers and business travellers face disruption at airports and ports after civil servants announced the UK Border Agency is to take part in a week of strikes from Monday, April 15.
The escalation of the dispute involving members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will also involve Home Office staff, along with UKBA employees who man passport controls.
About 30,000 public and civil servants north of the Border stopped work for a half-day strike yesterday in a dispute over pay and pensions.
It led to walkouts at the Scottish Government headquarters in Edinburgh, the Scottish Parliament, Ministry of Defence offices in Glasgow and Faslane, and museums, including the National Museum of Scotland – which shut at 1pm – as part of a UK-wide action over pay and pensions.
It included 800 staff who walked out of the Department for Work and Pensions and Identity and Passport Service.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told a rally outside the Cabinet Office in Westminster that a week of strikes would be launched at the Home Office and UK Border Agency from April 15. He accused the UK Government of failing to engage with union leaders.
The latest walkouts formed part of a three-month long campaign of industrial action, which started with a stoppage on Budget Day.
Mr Serwotka said the action had led to Jobcentres and other offices being closed, warning many will shut permanently if job cuts go ahead. He accused the Government of refusing to meet the union for talks, and called on Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude to resign.
He said: "These walkouts have been very solidly supported and show the depth of anger hard-working public servants feel at having their living standards cut. We warned the Home Office and UKBA that their belligerent approach would only serve to escalate the dispute."
A Government spokeswoman said about 634 of its employees went on strike, equivalent to 9% of core and main agency staff.
The strike is part of the union's campaign to stop cuts to pay and pensions and to defend work conditions.
On Monday, PCS members at HM Revenue and Customs will stage a half-day strike, timed to disrupt its work after the start of the new tax year.
Mr Maude said: "I would like to thank the overwhelming majority of committed public sector workers who remained at work today to deliver essential services. We are grateful for their dedication.
"Our figures show that only 40,793 civil servants heeded PCS's call to strike this afternoon – which represents less than 10% of the civil service."
A Cabinet Office spokesman also denied claims the union had been snubbed. He added: "We have consistently and comprehensively engaged with the PCS throughout this administration."
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