Strike to disrupt driving tests

Driving tests tomorrow face serious disruption as examiners stage a 24-hour walkout in protest at a new pay system.

Nearly 1,000 staff have also opted for an overtime ban and work-to-rule in the wake of the walkout after management imposed a salary increase which included a £30-a-month attendance bonus.

Tony Gallagher, a senior official at the National Union of Civil and Public Servants which covers examiners, said that under the arrangement any employee who was off work sick for one day would lose £30.

Mr Gallagher said it was" ludicrous" to think that his members would or could respond to such blandishments.

The union accused management of walking out of pay talks and refusing to discuss the bonus."They are only prepared to talk about how it is implemented, not whether it should exist in the first place," Mr Gallagher said.

"The job is stressful and dangerous and this unfair sickness tax will only lead to greater levels of absence, not less. By-passing the union and imposing this unacceptable attendance bonus is based on the false premise that examiners can be bribed into good health and improved attendance," he said.

Brian Sturtevant, of the Civil and Public Services Association, the union for administrative and clerical staff, described the management's action as "medieval".

The industrial action to follow tomorrow's stoppage is expected to hit the popular Saturday tests in particular.

The Driving Standards Agency, which has been hived off from the Department of Transport, said it could not predict in advance of the strike whether specific tests would take place and advised candidates due to be examined to turn up as planned.

Around 7,000 driving tests are taken every day at 400 centres and the unions predict that there could be a considerable number of cancellations.