Received from: PCS
Congress notes the dispute over Covid-19 safety at the DVLA in Swansea. Congress applauds PCS members who have been engaged in sustained strike action in order to make their workplace safe.
Congress condemns the employer for allowing a mass Covid-19 outbreak to develop, involving over 500 cases and one death. Congress further condemns the actions of ministers who intervened at the 11th hour to scupper an agreement to resolve the dispute.
Congress agrees to support the campaign for a full independent investigation into events at the DVLA, for the Minister for Transport, Grant Shapps to resign, and the call of no-confidence in the Chief Executive, Julie Leonard.
Congress agrees that the situation at DVLA is indicative of the government’s disastrous handling of the pandemic, which has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of workers and millions of Covid-19 infections, which have, and could, lead to serious long-term illness. Congress also notes that key workers have been most at risk and most disproportionately detrimentally affected by the pandemic.
Congress calls on the General Council to campaign for:
i. no compulsory return to workplaces for workers able to work from home
ii. new-technology agreements with employers that enable homeworking wherever possible
iii. pay rises for public sector workers in line with the demands tabled by their respective trade unions
iv. a pandemic-proofed future in which the interests of workers are protected and where safety comes first.
Public and Commercial Services Union