Contigency plans are being drawn up to cope with a strike by thousands of airport immigration staff on eve of the Olympics.
The 24-hour strike, on one of the airport’s busiest days, will involve UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau staff.
The action has been branded "shameful" by polticians and by members of the travel trade.
But Public and Commercial Services Union general secretary Mark Serwotka said staff are at breaking point.
"Ministers have known about these issues for a very long time and need to act now to sort out the chaos they have caused," he said when the announcement was made yesterday.
"They’re acting recklessly in cutting so many jobs and privatising services, and are provocatively refusing to talk to us with a genuine desire to reach an agreement."
by Bev Fearis
