Holidaymakers left stranded in passport strike

Holidaymakers faced a frantic wait for their passports today as staff at London's main office began a threeday strike.

Workers left their posts in a row over pay and the threat to close other offices around the country.

The industrial action left many people desperately queuing at the offices near Victoria station, wondering if they could still pick up their documents.

The strike also hit six regional passport offices and 68 interview offices, according to the Public and Commercial Services Union and coincided with the start of the school holidays.

Many holidaymakers were forced to leave empty-handed as they could not get an appointment during the strike.

Edward Strickland, 30, from St John's Wood, said: "If I don't get my passport renewed my girlfriend will be going on holiday to Greece this Saturday without-me. It's our annual break and we've been looking forward to it for a long time. I've been here at the offices since 8.30 this morning trying to get an appointment, but now I'm leaving three hours later empty-handed.

"I think everybody has a right to strike but this was really badly organised. They should have announced the strike in advance and chosen a week where there were no appointments.

"I hear 5,000 appointments were cancelled last week and that's outrageous. It's unfair on everybody."

Luke Daniels, 29, from Newquay, managed to pick up his passports but said it was touch-and-go. The 29-year-old said: "We left Newquay at one in the morning to come here. Our flights are at one this afternoon and we still don't know if we will make it.

"I've not got much sympathy for the strikers. I'd have none if it was just about their pay but it seems as if they might lose their jobs."

Debbie Mann, 44, from Carshalton, and her son Tyler West, 12, discovered recently that their passports expired in 2005. They needed to make an emergency trip to America following a bereavement. Mrs Mann said: "We have to be in Phoenix next Thursday. My husband's father died all of a sudden and the whole family is going to be there for support.

"I think the strike is unfair on all of us. They didn't need to do it on the day schools break up."

A skeleton staff of non-union members remained on hand. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The closure of the Glasgow passport office and the threat to a further unnamed three is fuelling the anger over the government's policy of below inflation pay."

An Identity and Passports Service spokesman said: "IPS will strive to maintain a service to the public and keep any inconvenience to a minimum. We are able to issue passports for those in emergency situations."