Driving and vehicle examiner strike: December 2015
Driving examiners and vehicle examiners are planning to take strike action at various times during December 2015.
Driving examiner strike action
Some driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union are planning to take strike action.
PCS has planned action at various times from Thursday 3 December until Friday 4 December 2015.
| Date | Regions affected |
|---|---|
| Thursday 3 December 2015 | London, South East, East of England and South West |
| Friday 4 December 2015 | All of Great Britain |
Advice to driving test candidates
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is doing all it can to make sure that tests go ahead as planned.
Not all examiners are union members, and DVSA expects most driving test centres to operate as normal. You should turn up for your test as planned.
Changing your driving test date
You can change your test to another date if you want to.
You must give at least 3 clear working days’ notice to change your test date or you’ll have to pay again.
If your driving test is cancelled
DVSA will book a new test appointment for you automatically if there’s no examiner available for your test.
You’ll be rebooked for the earliest available date, and DVSA will send you the details of the new appointment.
Out-of-pocket expenses
You can claim out-of-pocket expenses if your test is cancelled, but you must have turned up for your test to be able to do this. If you don’t turn up, you’ll have to rebook your own test and won’t be able to claim expenses.
Theory tests
Theory tests aren’t affected by the strike action and will be taking place as planned.
Vehicle examiner strike action
Some vehicle examiners who are members of the PCS union are planning to take strike action at the same time as driving examiners, as listed in the table above.
DVSA is doing everything it can to make sure that vehicle tests will go ahead as planned.
You should follow the usual process and contact your local DVSA network manager if your vehicle examiner doesn’t arrive at your authorised testing facility on the day.
Minimising disruption to customers
Paul Satoor, DVSA’s Interim Chief Executive, said:
We’re doing everything we can to minimise any disruption to customers and we apologise for any inconvenience.
Staff signed up to a new standard employment contract in April 2014 in exchange for a lump-sum payment and a 3-year pay deal. This was agreed with the trade unions, and applies to all staff in the Department for Transport and motoring agencies. The pay deal included transitional arrangements that came to an end on 1 November 2015.
It’s disappointing that the trade unions have now chosen to oppose the contract they agreed in 2014.