Public sector strike: your rights

This week's public sector strike is going to have a huge impact on parents and people travelling to and from airports and ports. Here are your rights if you're affected.

Wednesday’s public sector strikes are set to close schools and lead to long queues and possible flight cancellations at airports, particularly Heathrow.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re likely to be affected.

My child’s school is closed – can I take the day off?

You should have been informed by now if your child’s school is going to be closed. If it is, you need to check your employment contract to see what your rights are in terms of taking the day off.

Most employers should be flexible but you may well be asked to take the day as paid leave or unpaid leave or work from home.

I’m flying to/from a UK airport – what are my rights?

The UK Border Agency is going to be one of the focal points of the industrial action, with long queues predicted for airports and ports. Heathrow, in particular is likely to be badly affected.

If you’re booked on a package holiday, you’re covered by ATOL regulations, including any elements such as hotels and cars. If you’re already abroad, your tour company has an obligation to provide you with meals and accommodation, if necessary, during any delays.

If you’ve just booked a flight, the Civil Aviation Authority is advising passengers to check with their airlines before travelling to airports. Some airlines have cancelled flights into the UK.

Needless to say, you should also aim to arrive at the airport well before your flight departs to make sure you have time to clear passport control. Experts are advising passengers to keep hold of any proof of their arrival time at the airport, in the form of a car park or train or bus ticket.

If your flight leaves on time but you miss it due to long queues, you should be able to claim compensation, providing you can prove you were at the airport in plenty of time (which is where the tickets mentioned above come in).

If your flight is cancelled or delayed by over five hours, you are entitled to be put on an alternative flight or be offered a full refund.

If you choose to wait and you face a long delay, the airline is responsible for providing you with meals and overnight accommodation if necessary. Make sure you keep any receipts if you are buying your own food and drink to claim later.

The same applies if you’re taking a connecting flight that is cancelled, providing you bought the flights with the same airline. If you didn’t, then you may face a struggle to get a refund, unless your travel insurance policy covers you.

For other holiday bookings, such as hotels and car hire, that have not been booked as part of a package, you may be covered by your travel insurance policy.

I bought my travel insurance recently - am I covered for strike action?

Some insurers are already saying that they will not accept claims from people who bought their travel insurance policies after 14 September, when the strike action was called.

A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers told lovemoney: "Policies will not normally cover delay or cancellation if they were taken out after the dates of any specific industrial action were announced.

"This is because travel insurance is designed and priced to cover specified events that are not known to you when you took the policy out. If you are unsure of the position, contact your insurer."

Can I change my flight?

BA and Virgin are offering customers arriving on an international flight or, in BA’s case, transferring from an international flight onto a UK domestic flight the option to change their flights free of charge.

Most airlines say they are expecting to run a normal schedule of departures, but are advising passengers to arrive at airports in plenty of time.

I’m travelling to/from a UK port – what are my rights?

Channel Tunnel and ferry services may face disruption, particularly for passengers coming back from the continent. If there is major disruption lasting for days, any reimbursement on accommodation and car hire bookings will also need to be claimed via travel insurance. Again, though, you may face difficulties if you bought your travel insurance policy after the strikes were announced.

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