DVSA staff back strike action over plans to reduce driving test backlog

Workers at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action in a row over plans to reduce a backlog of driving tests.

More than 1,900 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union in England, Wales and Scotland backed action by 90.5% on a turnout of 59.21%.

Strike dates will be announced in due course.

The union said its members, who carry out driving tests and approve people to be driving instructors, are in dispute with management over plans to reduce the tests backlog.

A programme being driven by Transport Secretary Mark Harper poses “significant safety risks” to test candidates and examiners, as well as an erosion of staff’s terms and conditions, the union claimed.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “To recover a backlog of tests that was their own making, Mark Harper and management in the DVSA have demonstrated that they are willing not only to jeopardise our members’ safety and attack their terms and conditions.

“They are also showing scant regard for safety standards for driving test candidates.

“This huge ballot result for PCS members at the DVSA indicates that that they are prepared to take highly disruptive strike action across England, Wales and Scotland to protect the integrity of the driving test and their existing terms and conditions.

“Although they desperately want to see a reduction in waiting times, our members will not tolerate paying the price for political stunts and managerial failings that threaten to further undermine this vital public service.”

DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder said: “DVSA colleagues do an outstanding job in helping to keep our roads safe.

“We are working hard to reduce waiting times, which includes employing new driving examiners on flexible contracts with weekend hours.

“The safety of driving examiners, customers and all road users is hugely important, and we always assess and reduce any risks. We will not tolerate any form of abuse.

“It is disappointing that the PCS ballot supports industrial action. We remain open to talks with PCS to find a resolution.

“We will update customers on any impact as soon as we have more information.”