A POTENTIAL setback looms for individuals awaiting their driving licences as staff at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) initiate a 15-day strike, as reported by the PCS union representing the workers.
The strike, part of a civil service wide dispute over pay, pensions, jobs and conditions, involves approximately 100 DVLA employees in Swansea responsible for printing materials utilised by the DVLA and other government departments. The industrial action is scheduled to take place from 11th to 25th June.
The PCS union emphasised that while they aim to avoid inconveniencing customers, the lack of attention from the government regarding poor wages and the ongoing cost of living crisis has left the staff with no alternative but to strike.
Sarah Evans, chairwoman of the branch, expressed the employees’ frustrations, stating, “We don’t want our customers to be impacted at all, but there’s no other way we can get the attention of the government. Over the past 11 to 12 years, we have either received no pay increase or a meagre rise of 1 to 1.5%.”
The striking workers are demanding a substantial 10% pay rise. According to the union, some of the lowest-paid full-time DVLA workers earn just over £18,000 per year.
This strike action is part of an ongoing civil service dispute that has witnessed several strikes in the past year.
In response to the strike, the DVLA acknowledged the potential for delays in the delivery of documents to motorists and advised individuals to allow for additional time for their documents to arrive.
A spokesperson for the DVLA stated, “We have taken measures to minimise any disruption resulting from this targeted industrial action in our print and mailing section.”
While contingency plans have been put in place to mitigate the impact, it remains a possibility that motorists may experience delays in receiving their necessary documents. The DVLA assures the public that they are taking all necessary steps to manage the situation and minimise any inconvenience caused by the strike.
