A DVLA worker
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Swansea branch of the PCS is holding a protest rally on 10 August at 12.30 outside the Department for Transport (DfT) Shared Services Centre in Swansea.
Shared Services provides administrative functions such as payroll for DVLA and other DfT agencies and is due to be privatised in 2013. The rally is also to protest at the decision of the Con-Dem government to close the DVLA local office network with the potential loss of 1,200 jobs.
DVLA Swansea workers have already walked out on 8 June, 22 June and 3 August as part of the dispute over job losses, privatisation, pay freeze and attacks on terms and conditions. The walkouts have lasted for two to three hours in addition to the national one-day strike held on 10 May.
The decision to close the 39 local offices has caused widespread anger not just in the offices due to close but in the Swansea headquarters as well.
These lyrics express the reaction of a PCS member after receiving a letter declaring him surplus to requirements. Mike Penning, the Transport Minister, is an embarrassment.
Sung to the tune of ‘Embarrassment’ by Madness:
Received a letter just the other day
Don’t seem they wanna know us no more
They’ve laid it down given us the score
Within the first two lines it bluntly read
You’re not to come and work for us no more
Keep away from our door
Don’t come round here no more
What on earth did they do that for
Mike Penning he don’t know what he says
He’s a disgrace to the human race we say
How can you show your face
When you’re a disgrace to the human race
No integrity, you’re an embarrassment
Yes an embarrassment, a living endorsement
The consultation you have cooked
Public opinion got overlooked
They say stay away
Don’t want you at work today
Keep away from our door
Don’t come round here no more
You’re an embarrassment!