Driving test candidates advised to ignore strike threat

12:03pm Tuesday 30th January 2007

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LEARNER drivers expecting to take their tests today are being urged to turn up as planned, despite threats of strike action by examiners.

Driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union are expected to be among thousands of PCS members across Worcestershire expected to take to the picket line to try and prevent a serious and lasting cut in public and civil services.

In Worcester, a march will also take place from the Worcester City Magistrates' Court culminating in a rally at the Elgar statue in the city centre addressed by Lin Smith - PCS president in the Learning and Skillls Council.

The strike affects 200 government departments and non-departmental public bodies including HM Revenue and Customs, Department of Works and Pensions, HM Courts Service, Driving Standards Agency, Ministry of Defence, Learning and Skills Council, and Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Kevin Greenway, of the PCS National Executive Committee, said compulsory redundancy notices have been issued to Wildlife Officers in Defra in the South west and now the jobs of Defra members employed in Worcester are at risk.

He added: "Along with this, 12,500 job cuts were announced in HMRC before Christmas together with the closure of 200 payment offices. MOD faces 20,000 job cuts. This is to be repeated by degree across many departments with 100,000 jobs at risk.

"Once jobs are lost they are not replaced putting remaining staff under intense pressure. There has been a collapse in service delivery to the public in many areas.

"Pay levels are lower in parts of the Civil and Public service than anywhere in the public sector. 50 per cent earn less than £20,000 per annum and 25 per cent less than £15,000. Members in many Departments face below inflation wage offers of 0 per cent to 2 per cent whilst inflation is running at 4.2 per cent."

The Driving Standards Agency's chief executive Rosemary Thew said: "Not all examiners are members of the PCS union and even if they are, we cannot be sure that they will not turn up for work.

"We therefore want candidates to attend so that practical tests can be delivered if examiners are there. Theory tests are not affected and will be taking place as planned."