The bus drivers are taking industrial action over employer Arriva’s failure to keep their cabs cool during the summer heatwaves
More than 1,500 bus drivers across North London and Essex will resume their industrial action this week after members rejected an offer from their employer.
A strike by Unite members was paused last week following negotiations between the trade union and Arriva North London.
Workers were then balloted on a new offer, but they decided this did not go far enough to solve the problems of hot weather working.
It means the strike will resume tomorrow (Tuesday 25th) for four days this week, and then continue on-and-off across several weeks until the end of October.
Unite members at Arriva North London claim their employer failed to act on driver complaints about poor working conditions in hot weather.
Most buses operated by Arriva North London have air cooling systems rather than air conditioning, and Unite says this system has only managed to reduce temperatures by around two or three degrees during heatwaves this summer, with driver cabs reaching as high as 40 degrees on the hottest days.
The trade union says this puts drivers and the general public at risk as it can lead to crashes, with staff potentially suffering from heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration.
Transport for London (TfL), which commissions bus services from Arriva, says that it working on a “range of measures” to improve driver working conditions and vehicle safety.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “London bus drivers do a vital job, but are putting themselves at risk due to these appalling conditions.
“Arriva can fully afford to make meaningful changes our members can accept. Until that happens, strike action will continue and our members at Arriva North London will continue to have the full backing of Unite.”
Unite points out that Arriva recently reported a pre-tax profit of €156million and an operating profit of €127m.
Strikes will now take place from 25th to 28th August, 4th to 5th September, 7th to 8th September, 18th to 19th September, 21st to 22nd September, 2nd to 3rd October, 5th to 6th October, 16th to 17th October and 19th to 20th October.
Drivers involved in the dispute are based at bus garages in Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green.
The bus services affected are the 19, 29, 34, 41, 66, 67, 76, 102, 121, 141, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 217, 221, 243, 248, 254, 259, 279, 307, 313, 329, 341, 349, 370, 375, 377, 616, 675, SL1, SL2, W3, W4, W6, N19, N29, N41 and N279.
To compound the impact of the strikes, they will be coinciding with closures on the Piccadilly Line this week (Tuesday 25th to Thursday 27th) and also in September.
Unite regional officer Steven Stockwell said: “There is still time for Arriva to stop this disruptive action, but it relies on it coming back to the table with a deal our members believe will solve the serious problems with conditions once and for all.”
For more information on the bus strikes:
Visit tfl.gov.uk/campaign/strikes
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