Grinning union boss takes colleagues for boozy meal hours after announcing strike set to cripple Brits’ Xmas getaways
A UNION boss and her colleagues enjoyed a boozy pub meal — hours after announcing a strike which will cripple the Christmas getaway.
Grinning Fran Heathcote raised a glass on the same day she spearheaded a walkout by about 1,000 Border Force staff, causing misery for thousands of travellers.
Ms Heathcote, 50, president of the Public and Commercial Services union, told her 2,000 pals on Facebook: “Good comrades, lovely meal and lots to celebrate.”
The party at The London and South Western pub at Clapham Junction is thought to have cost hundreds of pounds.
It came as the Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned travellers to put off flying abroad at Christmas because of the disruption between December 23 and New Year’s Eve.
Checks on passports at major hubs such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports will be severely affected.
Hospitality chiefs say the strikes will cost businesses £1.5billion in lost sales.
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The most severe impact we’re seeing now is on consumer confidence and the growing cancellations businesses are seeing as a result of the strike.”
But any worries about the pain they will inflict on hundreds of thousands of people were not apparent as Ms Heathcote toasted her colleagues with a big smile to the camera on Wednesday night.
The anti-Tory campaigner tagged other members of the union’s committee in the post, which was liked by more than 100 people.
But Tory MP Nigel Mills raged: “They’re laughing in the face of the hard-working British people who are going to suffer badly because of this action.
“It’s sickening to see them gloating and smiling on the night they’ve announced strike action which will cause misery. They’re doing this at the first Christmas not to be impacted by Covid. It’s shameless.”
The PCS union, which represents about 30,000 civil servants, has already announced strikes at the Department for Work and Pensions, Highways Agency and driving examiners.
Britain is already in the grip of a series of strikes.
RMT workers begin a fresh round of action next week before strikes from Christmas Eve until December 27.
NHS nurses strike on December 15 and 20, followed by ambulance drivers on December 21. Posties will also walk out this month.