Newslink February

msagb.com
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Here comes the crunch
Colin Lilly
Editor,
Newslink
If you recall my editorial from the January
issue, in which I reimagined the old adage
about what is providing the light at the end of
the tunnel... well, the timetable has been
announced and the express is on its way.
The PCS (Public and Commercial Services)
union has announced the days when its
members at the DVSA will strike as part of the
industrial action voted for by its members.
Thursday 8th and Friday 9th February are
the strike dates for examiners and customer
service centre agents. On the 10th and 11th,
Saturday and Sunday, members of DVSA staff
contracted to work weekends will also strike.
This could result in the loss of as many as
8-10,000 driving test slots.
When announcing the strikes the PCS union
General Secretary Mark Serwotka described
plans by Mark Harper, Secretary of State for
Transport, to reduce the driving test backlog
as “flawed”. The union added that the plans
posed significant safety challenges for the
examiners and the candidates. They will also
erode the terms and conditions of examiners.
Mark Serwotka said: “Our members are
already working their hardest to clear the
backlog, but they need extra resources, extra
examiners, not instructions from Mark Harper.
“They want to maintain the high standards
they are used to delivering but they’re unable
to do that if they’re expected to work longer
and longer hours.
“If Mark Harper were serious about reducing
the backlog, he would invest in DVSA,
employing more examiners, not just expecting
the existing ones to work harder.”
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In response DVSA said it has been working
with PCS regarding the working arrangements
for examiners and L-test service staff. It has
made an offer to PCS to end the dispute but
this has been rejected.
We are unable to confirm what level of
impact the industrial action might have on our
services. Not all DVSA staff are PCS members,
and even if they are, they might choose not to
strike. So,we will not know which staff are
participating in strike action until it takes place.
As always, the DVSA will attempt to contact
the candidates whose test has been affected,
either directly or through the contact details
provided. If they have not been contacted,
they should attend as normal.
If candidates arrive for their appointment to
find their test cancelled, out of pocket
expenses can be claimed.
Some driving tests will be rescheduled
ahead of the strikes but any cancelled at short
notice will be allocated to the next available
date.
The possible effect on the customer service
centre is difficult to predict, but enquiries may
take longer than normal to answer. Some
service will be available between 8am and
4pm on 8th and 9th February.
In the release the DVSA said that the
customers expect a seven day per week
service and as a publicly funded service, the
DVSA feels obliged to provide this.
How long will it be before the public expect
evening testing as standard, or, dread the
thought, 24/7 tests?
As providers of a service, we need to make it
clear the hours we are willing to work and at
what price. It is amazingly easy to be dragged
into a constant cycle of work, which is harmful
to the well-being.
More on the strike action: see pg 6
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COVER STORY
This is not a test: a
live insurance
premium quote
offered to a new
driver. Are the
insurers pricing
young people out of motoring?
See pg 12
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Newslink
The Voice of MSA GB
Issue 373 • February 2024
Priced off
the road?
Concern as soaring insurance
premiums force young
people to ditch their
dream of driving own car
Let’s get back
to meeting
face-to face .
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NEWSLINK n FEBRUARY 2024 03