DVLA workers protest planned job losses (From The Argus)

DVLA workers protest planned job losses

1:23pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Alex Bennett

Employees at the DVLA office in Trafalgar Place staged a protest on Tuesday in response to plans to cut 1200 jobs in offices nationwide.

If the plan goes ahead 22 jobs in Brighton's DVLA office will be transferred to a centralised call centre in Swansea, meaning customers will have no access to face-to-face staff.

“Its not a good idea to take away the face to face service because we do all the complicated stuff that the post office, call centre, and website cant deal with,” said Steve Banfield, a representative of the Public and Commercial Services Union.

“If we go there’s nowhere else for people to go to. and the service we offer to local car dealerships will be taken away.”

The DVLA has predicted the centralisation will save £28 million and make transactions quicker and easier for customers, calling it an “ambitious program of change”.

Despite these reassurances workers at Trafalgar Place are sceptical the savings target will be met.

Mr Banfield said, “Out of the 39 local offices, 10 of them have what we call enforcement centres attached to them who deal with unpaid road tax. The evasion rate in this country has gone from 5% five years ago to 0.5% now.”

“If the plan goes wrong you only need half a percent rise in evasion to cancel out all the savings. This is a terrific gamble to take”

The DVLA has outlined a consultation period for those affected by the changes ending on the 20th March. The job losses will take effect sometime next year if the plan goes ahead.

Claire Wadey, a member of the Unite union said, “I think its right that workers are protesting, wouldn’t anyone protest faced with the loss of their job?”

“This is going to mean a worse service for the public, a worse service for the motor trade, a worse service for business. It will be worse for everybody.”