Driving examiner strikes could mean six-month waiting lists for tests

Seven separate days of strikes, the first on June 2 and the remaining six in the last two weeks, have gone unanswered by Spain's traffic authorities, meaning the planned programme of industrial action for July will go ahead.

By the end of this month, cancellations caused by the strikes will mean anyone applying this summer to take a driving test will have to wait until the early part of 2018.

And with the days of first-time passes long gone decades ago, the backlog certain to ensue could mean literally years before driving pupils get on the road independently.

Examiners are mostly striking over staff shortages forcing them to double up and creating a long waiting list, but they also complain they are paid the same as driving school office workers, despite the added occupational hazards they face.

The civil service union, the CSI·F, says the national traffic authority suggested creating a 'sliding scale' of professional levels and pay structure according to experience, and opening the profession to non-civil servants to remove any threat of privatisation.

Although the CSI·F is in favour of the idea, at present it says it is 'insufficient' as it does not extend to all personnel and does not include an extra salary allowance for the heightened risks faced by examiners.

The proposed structure would mean that of Spain's 750 examiners, 300 would not get a pay rise.