It’s a quieter day today (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
By the standards of the past few weeks, today is a quiet one when it comes to strikes.
Everyone from railway workers and civil servants to nurses has staged industrial action for months, often because of pay and declining working conditions.
Today, driving examiners in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West are walking out.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) workers who are part of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union have been striking since December.
Different agency workers from different regions have walked, with those in London and southern England and Wales striking since January 4.
Learning drivers are being urged to check if their practical test has been cancelled or rescheduled as transport workers join other civil servants in a series of strikes.
DVSA workers have staged a raft of strikes for weeks (Picture: Getty Images)
If the DVSA hasn’t contacted you, the agency recommends you still go to your appointment as normal.
Car, motorcycle, lorry, bus, coach, minibus, tractor and other specialist vehicle driving lessons might be impacted.
Union leaders say test centres at the following locations will likely be affected: Ashford (Kent), Aylesbury, Banbury, Bangor, Barnstaple, Belvedere (London), Bletchley, Bodmin, Bridgend, Bristol (Avonmouth), Bristol (Brislington), Bristol (Kingswood), Bromley (London), Burgess Hill, Caernarfon LGV, Camborne , Canterbury, Cardiff (Llanishen), Carmarthen, Cheltenham, Chertsey (London), Chichester, Chingford (London), Chippenham, Crawley, Dorchester, Eastbourne, Enfield (Brancroft Way), Enfield (Innova Business Park), Erith (London), Exeter , Exeter LGV, Farnborough, Folkestone, Gillingham, Gillingham LGV, Gloucester, Greenford (London), Guildford, Hastings (Ore), Hendon (London), Herne Bay, Hither Green (London), Isleworth (Fleming Way), Lancing, Launceston, Lee On The Solent, Llanelli, Llantrisant, Maidstone, Merthyr Tydfil, Mill Hill (London), Monmouth, Morden (London), Newbury (Hambridge Lane), Newport (Gwent), Newport (Isle Of Wight), Newton Abbot, Oxford (Cowley), Pembroke Dock, Pinner (London), Plymouth, Plymouth LGV, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading, Rhyl, Sevenoaks, Sidcup (London), Slough (London), Southall (London), Southampton (Maybush), Southampton LGV, Swansea, Swindon, Taunton, Tolworth (London), Tottenham, Tunbridge Wells, Uxbridge (London), Wanstead (London), Weston-Super-Mare, Winchester, Wood Green (London), Wrexham, Wrexham LGV and Yeading (London).
Timeline of strikes over the next few weeks
– January 8
The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.
– January 9
The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.
RPA staff to continue their walkout.
– January 10
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union will stage a national strike in primary schools, special schools and early years sites.
The DVSA strike continues in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West.
RPA staff to continue their walkout.
London bus workers at Abellio to go on strike.
– January 11
Unison members working for five ambulance services in England will stage a fresh walkout.
The GMB union, also representing ambulance staff, has now scheduled further strike action for this date.
EIS, joined by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, will stage another national strike in secondary schools and secondary special schools.
RPA staff will continue their walkout.
– January 12
Workers on London’s Elizabeth line will go on strike.
London bus workers at Abellio will also stage industrial action.
RPA staff will continue their walkout.
– January 13
RPA staff to continue their walkout.
– January 16
EIS to stage a national strike for 16 consecutive days until February 2, which will see members in two local authorities strike each day.
London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.
– January 18
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members in England will strike.
– January 19
London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.
RCN members in England will continue their strike.
– January 23
Unison members working for five ambulance services in England will stage another walkout.
– January 25
London bus workers at Abellio will go on strike.
– January 26
London bus workers at Abellio will continue to strike.
Civil servants from more government departments and agencies will move to strike again in the week ahead, joining bus workers and ambulances.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has invited union leaders across the public sector to talks tomorrow to prevent further stoppages.
He said Friday he wanted a ‘grown-up conversation’ with unions on public sector pay settlements for the financial year starting in April.
Talks must focus on ‘what’s affordable ’ and ‘what’s responsible’ for the country.
‘The most pressing economic priority we have is reducing the cost of living, and getting a grip of inflation is the best way we can do that to ease the cost of living, not only for nurses but for everyone,’ Sunak said.
Union leaders say years of stagnating pay has worsened workers’ bank accounts amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union currently balloting members, called it an ’empty offer’ and a ‘meaningless stunt’.
Emma Runswick, deputy chair of council at the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, said the talk offer was ‘laughable’.
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Don’t expect too much disruption today.
