I'm Mark Serwotka the general secretary of PCS.
This is a short video
first of all to say
how proud I am on behalf of PCS of our magnificent members
at the DVLA in Swansea.
Led by some fantastic activists, our members
have shown a real determination to stand up for
their health and safety at work.
Now had over four weeks of strike action
we've served notice for many more weeks into the future.
And we are doing that because this workplace has had
the biggest Covid outbreak of anywhere in the UK
tragically we've had a fatality
and management were not prepared to negotiate
a proper agreement with the union to keep people safe.
But in that dispute, after weeks of industrial action,
we did finally get an agreement with management
negotiated with the highest level DfT permanent
secretary and her team
we believe would have brought an end to the dispute.
Shamefully it appears that Grant Shapps
hiding in the shadows
without having the courage of his convictions to say
why he has done it
vetoed that deal, and has withdrawn
critical proposals from the table.
That is a scandal.
Because not only is he vetoing a deal
negotiated by his managers,
with our union in good faith,
he is pouring scorn on the efforts of dedicated
PCS members of the DVLA in Swansea
and he is forcing us to continue with this action.
Obviously we want everybody at the DVLA to support the strike
any of the union members that are still not
supporting us by going into work,
please support us. If you want a safe workplace
and you want it to stay safe for everybody,
support the strike.
It's not only now a DVLA strike
it's important for any workplace,
particularly anywhere in the civil service.
We want to make sure we maintain that effort to stay
safe - keep members safe
that should be the first thing that's being done.
We need your support,
we need money to help support it,
so please donate if you can.
Staff want to work.
They want to do their job.
They want to be part of a service to the public
because that's what we are,
we're civil servants
we're offering a service we're motorists - an awful lot of us are motorists
we want to do a job for people
we're not being allowed to properly
but we need to be able to do it safely.
Hi I'm Fran Heathcote
I'm the president of PCS and we're here today
to show solidarity with the DVLA Swansea members
who are striking for their safety.
We have been negotiating hard to get a deal
that would have avoided us continuing to
take industrial action
but at the eleventh hour that deal was pulled
so it's really important that people show their solidarity
not just in terms of your support but also if there are donations that your branch or group
can make, that would be really, really important to these members.
They have taken a fantastic stance
they're continuing to campaign very hard
and our demands are really, really straightforward.
They're for better conditions, better safety
and a controlled return to work
at a time when it is safe to do so.
Hello, my name is Mac
I'm a union rep for PCS at DVLA
we're outside the Department for Transport saying
enough is enough, bring the deal back to the table
so we can settle this dispute.
I'm on my fourth week of strike action now
along with my colleagues from the contact centre
in Swansea DVLA
and we are fighting for a safe workplace
we are fighting for respite for our staff
and we are asking, why did the DVLA
put a deal on the table
and then all of a sudden at the eleventh hour
pulled it with no explaination.
We are more resilient than ever
we have members joining every day
going on strike for the first time every day
we are growing
and we are going to fight until we win.
Solidarity!
Justice and safety for DVLA staff!