DVSA to stage 11 days of strike action this month from today

Driving tests in Essex are set to be further impacted this month, as civil servants from the PCS union take 11 days of strike action this month.

Those from the DVSA who are striking from today will impact those who have tests booked, adding to the large backlog of tests from the Pandemic.

The reason for the strike is to increase pay for DVSA staff, who have only seen a 2% increase, despite inflation increasing by 15%.

However, Gary Virgo who is a DVSA examiner and East of England representative for the PCS says that the intent of the strikes is never to hurt the student drivers.

"Most of my colleagues are going overtimes to try and help with this backlog of tests and try to reduce the impact that covid had, but also because of financially it helps them as the pay just doesnt stack up," Virgo states.

"I don't want to disappoint anyone who has their driving test next week, but what choice do I have?"

Dave Halliday owns a driving school in Chelmsford, and ushers his support from the strike, but says he's concerned about the stress for his students.

"We want to put our prices up but we can't because it's unfair on the public. So we're having to make do. I understand they want a payrise and they should have it, but it's not fair to take it out on the students because theyve paid the money," he continues. "If they need to put the test costs up so be it, but at this point we should focus on getting students through the test because it will help everybody."