Fresh holiday strike chaos as fast-track passport services sellout ahead of ... trends now
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Worried families led the rush for new passports yesterday amid fears that a five-week strike will put tens of thousands of summer holidays at risk.
Pricey appointments for fast-track services were quickly snapped up as holidaymakers applied for new documentation ahead of expected delays caused by the walkouts.
By yesterday afternoon, only Belfast's passport office was offering the one-week service – raising the prospect that desperate families will be forced to travel hundreds of miles to renew their passports before going on planned getaways.
The chaos came after the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) announced that about 1,000 Passport Office staff will walk out from April 3 to May 5 in a row over pay and conditions.
The strikes appear deliberately timed to coincide with the Passport Office's busiest period of the year.
Pricey appointments for fast-track services were quickly snapped up as holidaymakers applied for new documentation ahead of expected delays caused by the walkouts (file image)
Applicants are already told to allow up to ten weeks for replacement passports and waiting times are expected to balloon if the walk-outs take place.
Data-scientist Dr Michael Hodge, who oversees a Twitter feed that monitors availability of fast-track and premium passport office appointments, said there had been a surge in bookings in the wake of the strikes announcement.
