British border workers set strike date

LONDON - Associated Press

AFP photo

Britain's border control union has set a strike date for midnight May 10 as part of its dispute with the government on a mandatory retirement age.

Lucy Moreton, the deputy general secretary of the Immigration Service Union, says workers at major airports such as Heathrow as well as seaports will be affected by the strike.

Border controls in Paris and Brussels connected to the Eurostar train service will also be affected.

The move by the union, which represents 4,500 border control officers, comes at a time of great tension along border checkpoints.

Long lines at Heathrow some visitors have reported waits of longer than two hours have become the subject of national angst, particularly with the country preparing to host the Olympics.