Britain frets over border guard strike

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LONDON, July 20 (UPI) -- As many as 5,500 border guards could go on strike in Britain next Thursday, the day before the opening ceremony for the Olympics, officials said.

A record estimated 130,000 passengers are expected to arrive at Heathrow airport that day, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

The Public and Commercial Services union says it is striking over job cuts and pay although only one in 10 staff members support the walkout, the newspaper said.

The Daily Telegraph said the government is looking at contingency plans to put civil servants at immigration desks.

Home Secretary Theresa May called the planned strike "shameful."

"They are holding a strike on what is one of the key days for people coming into this country for the Olympic Games," May was quoted as saying. "I believe it is not right for them to hold a strike. They will risk damaging people's enjoyment of coming through into the [United Kingdom]."