MPs BACK DVLA STRIKE BALLOT
LABOUR MPs are backing strike action at Swansea’s DVLA. The MPs all have constituents who work at DVLA Swansea. The DVLA insists: “Staff safety is our top priority.”
But the MPs argue they have real concerns about the health of staff during the coronavirus crisis.
The PCS union is currently balloting members at the DVLA about strike action.
MPs Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon), Carolyn Harris (Swansea East), Geraint Davies (Swansea West), Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower), Christina Rees (Neath) and Nia Griffith (Llanelli) have written an open letter to staff and DVLA bosses.
The letter says: “As local Labour MPs who all have constituents that work at DVLA Swansea, we have real concerns about the health of staff there during this Covid crisis.
“We supported the position in the first lockdown where only essential workers came onto site – between 250 and 500 at the time.
“Constituents of ours have written to us in large number to express their concerns about staff numbers and safety on DVLA sites.
“Since staff were brought back in September last year, cases on site have escalated to over 550 positive cases, and sadly a staff member death.
“This is unacceptable and the fact that the minister and DVLA management are refusing to substantially change their position on this is shocking.
“We believe the PCS union have tried every means possible through negotiation to get an agreement to have more staff working from home.
“That has been blocked by the chief executive and the minister Grant Shapps.
“Despite all the representations in Parliament and wide-scale media coverage the numbers coming into work are still reckless, irresponsible and unnecessary when the message from the Government is stay at home.
“Therefore we understand and support the move by the PCS union to ballot its members for industrial action as a last resort to improve the safety of its members and our constituents.
“We urge members to participate in this ballot and vote yes and for the senior management and ministers to get back round the negotiating table with a better and safer offer for staff.”
The PCS is balloting members because of what it says are “escalating concerns about safety at the DVLA site.
“With more than 550 positive cases since September 2020 and well over 2,000 staff attending the site each day, DVLA management is still refusing to make plans to reduce staff numbers on site and keep our members safe.”
Representatives of the PCS union have since met with representatives from the DfT (Department for Transport), Cabinet Office and DVLA representatives to demand:
Numbers on site should be reduced from the thousands now on site to the hundreds, more similar to the staff configuration in March 2020;
for all vulnerable staff (around 650 are still on site) to be sent home immediately, while plans to reduce numbers further are being discussed between the union and the DVLA;
that the DfT and DVLA put to the minister what work could be stopped on site in order to reduce numbers;
and that members who choose to invoke their rights under Section 44 of the Employment Act would not be met with disciplinary action.
A PCS spokesman said: “We can’t wait for cases to surge once again before we make moves to keep our members safe. We’ve worked hard to engage with the DVLA to get staff numbers on site reduced but the DVLA are digging in their heels. We now have to act decisively to secure our health and safety is taken seriously.”
A postal ballot is now under way and will run until March 11.
In response to earlier stories about safety issues at the DVLA, a spokesman for the agency has said: “Our focus throughout the pandemic has been, and continues to be, on the safety of our staff.
“The only people on-site are operational staff whose roles cannot be done remotely and rigorous protocols are in place to ensure safety, including one-way systems, Perspex screens, face coverings, the introduction of zones and social distancing.
“Staff alerted by test and trace are sent home on full pay for 10 days.”