RE: DSA Strike
Thursday 18th March 2004
Industrial action and a work to rule by Driving Standards Agency examiners will hit every new driver where it hurts in the pocket.
Thousands of tests have been cancelled at short notice, forcing learners to have to rebook, overloading already critical waiting lists, and causing widespread disruption to driving instructors.
"It¹s absolutely scandalous," says DIA General Manager Eddie Barnaville.
"With its examiners on strike and working to rule, the DSA will be losing money. And like everybody else, they have budgets and targets to make. So they will put the price of L-tests up. Needless to say, the DSA denies that this will happen!
"But it gets worse. They will end up paying examiners more money, so they will be passing that on to learner drivers as well.
"And it doesn¹t end there. Driving instructors and these are professional people, with a business to run are losing money because of the strike. They drive miles to test centres, only to find the test cancelled because the examiner is working to rule. The DSA pays some compensation, but it rarely covers the real cost. How could anyone blame instructors for wanting to put up their tuition fees?"
The DSA voluntarily suspended its Charter Mark status last November due to already spiralling booking times for practical tests. " Learner drivers are now waiting up to four months for a driving test," says Mr Barnaville. "It's an outrageously long time if you need that licence for a new job, and you will need to spend more on additional lessons while you wait," he added.
DSA Strike
L Tests Hit
Industrial action and a work to rule by Driving Standards Agency examiners will hit every new driver where it hurts in the pocket.
Thousands of tests have been cancelled at short notice, forcing learners to have to rebook, overloading already critical waiting lists, and causing widespread disruption to driving instructors.
"It¹s absolutely scandalous," says DIA General Manager Eddie Barnaville.
"With its examiners on strike and working to rule, the DSA will be losing money. And like everybody else, they have budgets and targets to make. So they will put the price of L-tests up. Needless to say, the DSA denies that this will happen!
"But it gets worse. They will end up paying examiners more money, so they will be passing that on to learner drivers as well.
"And it doesn¹t end there. Driving instructors and these are professional people, with a business to run are losing money because of the strike. They drive miles to test centres, only to find the test cancelled because the examiner is working to rule. The DSA pays some compensation, but it rarely covers the real cost. How could anyone blame instructors for wanting to put up their tuition fees?"
The DSA voluntarily suspended its Charter Mark status last November due to already spiralling booking times for practical tests. " Learner drivers are now waiting up to four months for a driving test," says Mr Barnaville. "It's an outrageously long time if you need that licence for a new job, and you will need to spend more on additional lessons while you wait," he added.
Discussion
there 
useless, the dsa. a mate of mine had his test canceled a few weeks back because the examiners where delibretly taking longer than the usual 40 mins on the previous test so they couldnt do the next persons test (my mate). whatever the examiners problems they shouldnt take it out on the people taking their tests. then there is the 3 month waiting lists
no idea about working to rule
'Working to rule' - working to strict contract only.
Therefore all goodwill gestures, overtime and minor rule bending to accomodate the job go out of the window.
Most examiners go out of their way to get the job done - the DSA takes advantage of this. So if the examiners refuse to do anything but their specific duties and the job goes to pot whose fault is it?
Therefore all goodwill gestures, overtime and minor rule bending to accomodate the job go out of the window.
Most examiners go out of their way to get the job done - the DSA takes advantage of this. So if the examiners refuse to do anything but their specific duties and the job goes to pot whose fault is it?
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