A joint statement from PCS Union and the DVSA:

On 6 February 2024, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) suspended the planned industrial action on 8, 9, 10 and 11 February 2024.

DVSA has made an offer to PCS addressing the 8 concerns raised by their members. These include members’ safety, terms and conditions and the standards of safety that driving tests require.

PCS will now consult its members on the latest offer made by DVSA through a consultative ballot.  We hope the consultative ballot outcome recognises the significant work from the DVSA and PCS negotiating team and delivers a favourable outcome.

Issues resolved

PCS and DVSA have been in intensive negotiations with the aim of resolving the trade dispute concerning the changes made by DVSA in the name of the Driver Services Recovery Programme.

PCS and DVSA have reached an agreement on several actions following talks regarding the eight demands in the dispute and this has been recorded in a Memorandum of Understanding.

We would like to express our thanks to both PCS and DVSA colleagues involved in the negotiations for their hard work.  PCS will now make arrangements to consult their members on the offer proposed by DVSA.  DVSA colleagues should therefore present for work on contracted days.

Improving picture

DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder commended DVSA colleagues “in helping to keep our roads safe and are working to bring waiting times down”.

Loveday added: “I am grateful to the DVSA and PCS negotiating teams for the productive discussions and their commitment to resolving the issues.
“Driving test candidates with tests booked between 8 – 11 February should attend their test as planned”.

In December 2023, 152,474 practical car driving tests were carried out. This is the highest number of tests done in December since records began.

The monthly average national driving test waiting time to 17.4 weeks in December

Concessions

PCS claims to have won significant concessions from Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency bosses.

Almost 2,000 PCS members in 270 test centres across the UK. Many were due to take strike action for four days this week over what have been described as ‘flawed plans to clear the driving test backlog’.
Following intense negotiations with the DVSA, the PCS has suspended strike action. The details of the deal will put to members who will hopefully excepts the offer.

“This positive result – successfully negotiating improved proposals for all eight of our demands, says PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote. “It’s a huge win for our members and will hopefully pave the way to clearing the backlog in a way that’s safe for our members and those taking the tests.”

Heathcote added the victory shows “what we can achieve as a collective”.

No test cancellations

This means that the services booked with DVSA, such as driving and instructor tests, between 8 – 11 February 2024 will not be affected. We are pleased that you and your pupils will not be affected and can take tests as planned.

We will contact driving test candidates with tests booked on the dates of the suspended industrial action to reassure them to attend their test as planned. If you have booked a test on these dates for your pupils, you need to let them know and ensure they turn up as planned.

Waiting times

Colleagues across DVSA are working extremely hard to reduce waiting times and industrial action would have had a real impact on this work. We remain immensely grateful for their continued efforts to bring waiting times down.

In her latest blog post Loveday Ryder tells you in more details about the work so far.

We also recognise the vital role that you are playing – including by using our Ready to Pass? campaign materials – in educating candidates to only take their driving test when they are ready.

For updates

We have published an update to our guidance on the driving examiner strike on GOV.U