Newslink October 2021

News
Examiners to strike over 8-test schedule
ADIs already struggling to find L-test
slots for their pupils will have another
obstacle in their path this autumn after
it was announced that examiners will be
going on strike for two days in October.
A bad situation then became worse
when some examiners decided to ‘work
to rule’ from the end of September. This
has the potential to disrupt testing even
when they are on duty.
As revealed in the September issue of
Newslink, DVSA plans for each examiner
to conduct eight L-tests a day in an
attempt to reduce the current waiting list
have been met with fierce opposition by
examiners and their union. After talks
broke down between the two sides over
the issue, the PCS union held a ballot on
industrial action at the end of September.
This saw 92 per cent of members voting
for strike action, in a move the union said
was in defence of examiners’ working
terms and conditions.
In a statement, the PCS said: “DVSA
management have notified staff that they
intend to implement the new eight-test
schedule from October 11 despite our
opposition. We have concerns around
both the wellbeing of members and the
health and safety implications to the
public of introducing an additional test
into an already time-pressured schedule.”
PCS members working as driving
examiners and their line managers will
be asked to take two days’ strike action
on October 11 and 12 – though the
union stressed that it remained open to
talks over the matter with the DVSA.
DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder
said she was disappointed to learn that
testing could face further disruption.
She said: “The country has endured so
06
DVSA announces SOP changes
The DVSA has announced an update
to Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) for both car and motorcycle
testing.
The review has been published to
take account of recent national
updates on a number of issues,
including important Covid-19
protocols.
You read the new SOPs by clicking
on the following links.
much as a result of Covid-19 and we
have been in regular discussion with the
PCS on how we can support the recovery
of our services, so it is disappointing that
the PCS has chosen to take this course
of action.
“Safely reducing driving test waiting
times will contribute to the national
recovery effort and we are taking steps to
provide thousands of learner drivers with
the vital driving tests they need to access
employment, education, health and
social activities.
“As part of our plans to increase the
number of tests available, we have
trialled examiners carrying out an
additional test per day, during their
normal working hours.
“The safety and wellbeing of our
customers and colleagues is paramount.
We continue to work with colleagues and
PCS on these proposed changes.”
MSA GB national chairman Peter Harvey
said the news – while not surprising
Click here for the DVSA
Standard Operating
Procedure: Conducting
driving tests (car)
Click here for the DVSA
Standard Operating
Procedure: Conducting driving
test (Motorcycle Mod 1 & Mod 2)
– was a hammer blow to pupils and their
ADIs. “If examiners do go on strike for
two days we could see around 5-10,000
L-tests lost. That’s 5-10,000 learners
who may struggle to get an alternative
test date before February of next year.
“It is completely unacceptable as far as
ADIs are concerned, and we have to
wonder about the negotiating skills of
both the PCS and the DVSA that this
issue has led to industrial action.”
DVSA believes the extra test can be
accommodated by using time examiners
previously spent on post-test admin, but
which is now unused as much of this
work is completed during the L-test as
part of the digital marking scheme.
Clearly, however, examiners do not
share that view.
What is making the situation worse is
that examiners are apparently ‘working to
rule’, and this is already having an
impact on testing. Members have already
contacted MSA GB complaining about
L-test cancellations for ‘unclean’ car
interiors, leading to Peter saying: “A
quick reminder: Covid rules demand that
cars on L-tests are very clean. Don’t
allow dust to gather on surfaces, keep
footwells tidy and make sure the dash
and steering wheel are wiped clean,” he
said.
It appears that some examiners are
‘walking back’ to the test centre if a test
is abandoned. Peter added: “Examiners
will often allow the candidate to drive the
car back to the DTC in the event of a test
being abandoned on safety grounds, but
we’ve had reports of a number saying
they will walk back instead.
“While this is their right if they believe
the candidate’s driving puts them in a
dangerous position, it is notable that
incidences of this have risen in recent
days. If this trend continues it has the
potential to disrupt subsequent tests if
the examiner does not make it back on
time to take their next test – “an
appalling situation for candidates, who
could find their much-anticipated test
cancelled at a moment’s notice.”
MSA GB has petitioned the DVSA and
the Department for Transport over
whether out-of-pocket expenses could be
paid to ADIs and candidates impacted by
the strikes. At the time of publishing this
issue of Newslink, neither party had
responded but we will keep you posted
on this.
See www.msagb.com for updates in
the coming days.
NEWSLINK n OCTOBER 2021