Public and Commercial Services Union

In this section we set out the campaigns the DfT group is undertaking.

Maritime & Coastguards Agency

During 2008 the members in the MCA have taken 7 days of strike action in support of their claim for fair pay and comparability with other emergency services.  In its 154 year history of search and rescure this is the first time ever that they have felt compelled to take such action. Find out more about the background on the MCA strike action.

Driving Up Road Safety Standards 

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has a motto of Safe Driving For Life. PCS is campaigning to make that motto a reality. There are three strands to the campaigning:

Delegated Examiners.  Most driving tests for bus and coach drivers are not carried out by government officials but by delegated examiners who work fore the companies.  We are calling for those private companies to be stripped of the right to conduct tests. Find out more about our delegated examiners campaign.

Graduated Licensing.   We are proposing the introduction of Graduated Licensing where young and new drivers have to show that they have acquired the necessary skills before they can have full use of the road at all times of the night and the day.  Find out more about our graduated licensing campaign.

A More Realistic Road Test.   At present the driving test does not have a motorway element; nor does it test overtaking. We believes that the current situation, where riders of low powered motorcycles are tested for the same amount of time as riders of more powerful machines (category A), must be changed.  Find out more about our road test campaign.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a vital green tax. DVLA, who are tasked with its collection, are not putting sufficient resources into its collection. PCS is campaigning for sufficient resources in terms of staff and money to be committed to this task.   Find out more about our VED campaign. 

Shared services

DfT wants to centralise many of its HR and finance functions onto a single site in Swansea. The programme to do this is ill though out, over budget and behind time. Despite this we believe the logic of the centralisation must lead to standardisation of terms and conditions. Find out more about our work around shared services.