LEARNER drivers across south Essex may have to wait for the chance to get their full licences as driving examiners intend to strike.

As of yesterday, driving examiners who are members of Public and Commercial Service union (PCS), will not be working overtime.

This follows an announcement of a new test by the Driving and Vehicles Standards Agency that the union says will require examiners to work longer hours for no change in pay.

As a result, 84 per cent of union members voted in favour of industrial action in October with a 70 per cent turnout.

This means that examiners will not be working overtime until further notice and will stage a strike on December 4 and 5.

The move has received mixed reactions from driving instructors in south Essex.

Dave Sexton, of DASL Intensive School of Motoring in Shoebury, said: “I fully understand why the examiners are taking strike action owing to the way they have been treated by the DVSA.

“But to take it out on our pupils and even the instructors at this difficult transition time of changing to the new test, and for some pupils the last chance of passing the old test, is quite remarkable.”

Mike Porter, of Mike’s 500 Driving School, said the move did not affect him or his students.

He said: “It doesn’t make a difference to me.

“The bottom line is that if it is an exercise for them to get more money, then they are going to go for it.

“It’s no big deal, we just need to get on with it.”

Union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Rather than engage with PCS in a serious manner, the DVSA and DfT have resorted to half-truths and inaccuracies in their attempt to deflect blame for this dispute.

“I call upon Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to get a grip of this issue and get his officials around the table with PCS to discuss the issues and avoid the industrial action that is planned.”

DVSA chief executive Gareth Llewellyn said: “We have made PCS an improved offer to the one they accepted but the union is deliberately misleading its members by claiming the better offer we have put to them requires staff to work longer for less, when it does precisely the opposite.”