TAO strike threat looms
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• Furious civil servants faced with the closure of three Traffic Area Offices are considering taking industrial action, which could create huge hold-ups for operators trying to obtain licences.
Roads and Traffic Minister Robert Atkins said last week that TAOs in Newcastle, Nottingham and London will be closed, despite recommendations to the contrary from unions and Licensing Authorities. Workers at Newcastle "are particularly unhappy about running down their jobs for nine months as they transfer their files to the Leeds office," says John Gallagher of the National Union of Civil and Public Servants. Newcastle workers plans to put on pressure to have licences issued from Newcastle as well as Leeds, but there could be a backlog of work. "We're desperate to avoid hurting the industry," says Gallagher, "and we're seeking to ensure that the industry will get its licences." Up to 20 jobs may be lost through the closures; other staff will be redeployed, says the Department of Transport. NCUPS is angry that Atkins will not boost enforcement and plough back savings made from streamlining the system.
It is likely one traffic commissioner post will be lost, but this is to be achieved by natural wastage; the Western area office could absorb the extra commissioners when John Carpenter retires next year.