Strike sees driving tests axed

More than 200 driving tests were cancelled in Shropshire as examiners took part in a one-day strike over pay, it was claimed.

Union bosses said there was a good turnout of driving examiners at test centres across the county and Friday’s action was “well supported”.

They said up to 1,000 driving tests were cancelled across the West Midlands, with between 200 and 250 being cancelled at test centres in Shropshire.

They had estimated up to 350 could be cancelled in the county.

Nationally thousands of members of the Public and Commercial Services Union took part in the strike as employees of the Department for Transport (DfT) and five of its agencies walked out in a row over pay inequality and below inflation pay.

Yesterday Stewart Williams, driving examiners branch chairman with the PCS, said: “We’re probably talking about 200 to 250 driving tests being cancelled in Shropshire.

“It was a good turnout and hopefully it will have got the message out. We will be continuing the pressure.”

Regional centres controlling the flow of motorway traffic were also disrupted while the half yearly introduction of new number plates was affected.

In Shropshire the action affected driving tests centres in Shrewsbury, Telford, Ludlow and Whitchurch, and the VOSA goods vehicles test centre in Shrewsbury.

A centre in Shrewsbury where lorry drivers take their tests was also affected, while a picket line was also formed at the DVLA centre on the town’s Battlefield Enterprise Park.

Jan Watts, from the DVLA, said: “The office was closed to the public but the reaction from them when they hear the reasons for the strike has, on the whole, been quite good and they understand why we are doing it.”

The PCS said the one day strike was called in response to a series of below inflation pay offers and widening pay gaps between the predominantly female staffed DVLA and the predominantly male DfT and related agencies.

It will be followed by a campaign of action “short of a strike” as the union calls on the department to introduce a common pay system.

Yesterday’s action involved staff with the Driving Standards Agency; the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; and the Highways Agency; the Vehicle Certification Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

By John Kirk