Some staff at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea are being asked to strike for five days consecutively in February in a dispute over pay and job security. Employees who are a part of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working at Ty Felin and Morriston sites in Swansea are expected to walk out from February 13 to 17.
The union said the industrial action had come as a result of a dispute over better pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms. It said it was "determined to keep the pressure on until the government improves its offer to members."
The DVLA has insisted there will be no widespread disruption and only a small number of staff - around 60 people - will be advised to strike by the PCS union. The Swansea-based agency, which has over 6,000 staff in the region, said online services and the Contact Centre would not be affected. " Get Swansea stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
A DVLA spokesperson said: “The quickest and easiest way to deal with DVLA is through our online services which, along with our Contact Centre, is operating as normal during this period of industrial action. It is very disappointing that PCS is incentivising union members by paying them to take part in action."
This is the latest round of strikes at the agency, with workers within the DVLA's medical section voting to strike in January. Six hundred workers from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union in Swansea and Birmingham whose job it is to assess people's ability to drive before granting them licences walked out in a dispute over pay.
The walkout happened after "one of the highest votes in favour of strike action" at the DVLA, with nearly 94% of members voting in favour of the move. The DVLA itself has hit out at the move, accusing the union of "negatively impacting some of the most vulnerable people in society."
Half a million workers in the UK are set to go on strike this week due to various disputes over pay and working conditions. Teachers, train drivers, civil servants, university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards from several trade unions are set to walk out on Wednesday, February 1.
It is set to be the biggest day of industrial action in over a decade. On the same day, protests will be held across the country against the UK Government's controversial plans for a new law on minimum service levels during strike action.
Striking unions and local trades councils have organised rallies in towns and cities across the UK, including outside the HMRC building in Cardiff and on Castle Square in Swansea. According to the general secretary of TUC, Paul Nowak, Wednesday is said to be a "really important day" for workers and members of the public to show support for those taking action to defend pay, jobs and services, as well as for the right to strike.
Bus drivers and security guards will not be striking in Wales. London bus drivers, who are employed by Abellio, are expected to walk out on February 1, 2 and 3 after rejecting a second pay offer. Meanwhile, University College London security guards will also be striking on Wednesday.
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