THE FIRST three driving tests at exam centres across the east of Scotland were cancelled yesterday because of an examiners’ strike.

They were among more than 1500 examiners affiliated to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union who walked out for two and a half hours in protest at below inflation pay rises for the second year in a row.

Steve Grigor of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said staff at the Driving Standards Agency were expecting what are effectively pay cuts for a further three years.

Workers at the agency have been offered increases of just 1% at a time when inflation is running at almost 4%, and starting salaries are as little as £12,528.

A further 90-minute stoppage is scheduled for Tuesday and members are refusing to do overtime for the next month unless the dispute is resolved.

Driving test centres in Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Cupar were among those affected but Mr Grigor said all staff were back at work by 11am.

“We’ve been pleased with the response of members who are clearly displeased,” he said.

“This is the second year of pay cuts in real terms we’ve had and we’ve been told to expect a further three years.

“This year alone, an examiner on the maximum for his grade will have lost £700 in earning power which is a significant amount.

“If that’s compounded up over the next three years you’re talking about substantial losses and you wonder what effect that’s going to have on their desire to stay in the job.”

Theory tests were not affected by the strike and took place as normal.

The strike had no impact in Perth, where the day’s sole examiner remained on duty during the morning.

In Blairgowrie, the centre is not open on a Thursday, although strike action next week could affect tests.A small number of driving tests had to be cancelled in Dundee yesterday after examiners went on strike.

It is understood that two examiners were due to be working at Dundee’s driving test centre in Faraday Street yesterday and the strike affected six test slots.

PCS political officer Lynn Henderson said a below inflation pay offer was unacceptable because DSA staff were already lowly paid with starting salaries from £12,500.

She said, “Our members in the Driving Standards Agency are taking action this morning and again on the 25th.

“They are also working an overtime ban over the Easter weekend and the coming month.

“What that means in practice is a number of driving tests will have to be cancelled over this period.

“It is a dispute members of the DSA are having over pay— people’s wages are spiralling downwards whilst the cost of living is going up and up and up.”

Alan Lockhart, of the Dundee and District Driving School Association, said a handful of tests would be affected yesterday and next week.

He said association members supported the pay claim but said it could leave learners in the lurch at the last minute.

Mr Lockhart said, “We understand the reasons behind the strike and fully support them but the problem for some learners is that today could be their last chance to sit their test before their general theory test expires.

“I heard this was coming two weeks ago and the first thing I did was check my diary for any tests on the affected days, but I was lucky.

“It is an inconvenience though for instructors and, more or less, for learners.”