DVLA workers to strike over Covid safety fear
HUNDREDS of staff at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are poised to start a four-day strike today in a dispute over Covid-related safety of workers.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union are walking out until Friday after talks failed to resolve the row over office-based jobs.
The union said those involved will include operational staff who have not been working from home.
Further industrial action is threatened if managers do not make the safety improvements the PCS is demanding, such as reducing the number of staff working at the site in Swansea.There was an outbreak of Covid at the offices last year, but the DVLA said it has followed official health guidance for keeping staff safe.
The union said progress had been made in talks but there was a lack of immediate moves to reduce numbers on site, meaning the action will go ahead. Agreement had been reached on removing more than 300 desks, revising risk assessments which has led to a further 300 staff being sent home.
The union’s general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “That PCS members are
prepared to take unprecedented strike action shows just how badly DVLA management have failed in their responsibility to keep staff safe. No civil servant should have to go on strike to guarantee their safety at work.”
The agency said the strikes were likely to affect paper licence applications and calls but online services will still be available.
A spokesman said: “DVLA has followed and implemented Welsh Government guidance at every single point throughout the pandemic as we work to deliver our essential services.”