Military drafted in to cover biggest strike in a decade as half a million workers walk out

Up to 600 Armed Forces personnel are stepping in today as half a million workers across different sectors walk out in the largest-scale strike day in more than a decade.

Those on strike include train drivers, teachers, university lecturers, and around 100,000 civil servants are also set to strike in a row over pay and conditions.

It is the second time the military has been called on to provide cover for striking Border Force workers – in December personnel operated passport booths at Heathrow, Birmingham, Cardiff, Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester airports, and the port of Newhaven in East Sussex.

• Why do people keep mentioning Maca and what does it mean?
• Former officer says military personnel covering strikes deserve bonuses as campaign is launched
• UK military 'stands ready' for planned Border Force strikes, MOD says

Heathrow Airport was said to be operating as normal with minimal queuing in immigration halls despite the strike by Border Force workers.

A spokeswoman for the airport said: "Heathrow is fully operational, passengers are flowing through the border smoothly with Border Force and the military contingency providing a good level of service for arriving passengers.

"We are working to support Border Force's plans to continue the smooth operation of the airport during this period of industrial action."

Some of the sectors on strike will walk out on 1, 2, and 3 February, which is thought will cause major disruption across the country.

Later today protests are also set to be held against the Government's plans for a new law to be introduced, setting out "minimum service levels" during any future strike action.

In December 2022, a Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesperson confirmed the MOD had accepted requests from various government departments for troops to cover for striking workers under the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities process, also known as 'Maca'.