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London bus strikes involving 1,500 drivers and impacting more than 40 routes are taking place this week. Drivers working for Arriva London North voted to reject a deal over working conditions and are set to walk out on dozens of dates across August, September and October.
Have you been struggling with London’s stifling heat this summer? Think of the bus drivers. During periods of hot weather in-cab temperatures can soar beyond 40C. The current dispute is in response to those working conditions, and the first strike was on August 14.
The striking drivers are part of the Unite union. They’re based at eight bus garages and work on routes across north, east and central London, as well as Essex. The walk-outs were set to impact more than 40 routes – including not just normal London buses but also night buses, school services and Superloops. Last week’s strikes were postponed while union members voted on a deal, which they’ve now rejected.
Worried that your local bus route could be hit by strikes? Here’s what you need to know about the industrial action.
When are London bus drivers going on strike?
The following walk-outs are planned:
- August 25 (4am) to August 28 (4.30am)
- September 4 (4am) to September 5 (4.30am)
- September 7 (4am) to September 8 (4.30am)
- September 18 (4am) to September 19 (4.30am)
- September 21 (4am) to September 22 (4.30am)
- October 2 (4am) to October 3 (4.30am)
- October 5 (4am) to October 6 (4.30am)
- October 16 (4am) to October 17 (4.30am)
- October 19 (4am) to October 20 (4.30am)
Which bus routes will be affected by strikes?
The following services are set to be impacted by walk-outs.
- 19
- 29
- 34
- 38
- 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
- W3
- W4
- W6
School services:
- 616
- 675
Superloop routes:
- SL1
- SL2
Night buses:
- N19
- N29
- N41
- N279
TfL warns that ‘little or no service is expected on affected routes’ on strike dates.
Why are bus drivers going on strike?
Unite said that the dispute was due to Arriva North having ‘failed to act on driver complaints about poor working conditions in hot weather’.
Unite says that current air-cooling systems only manage to reduce in-cab temperatures by ‘around two or three degrees’, arguing that hot weather is both dangerous for drivers – causing heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration – and exacerbates fatigue.
Which London bus garages are affected by the strikes?
Arriva North drivers at the following garages were walking out:
- Barking
- Edmonton
- Enfield
- Grays
- Palmers Green
- Stamford Hill
- Tottenham
- Wood Green
What’s been said about the bus strikes?
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Time and time again drivers have complained to Arriva North London about working in dangerous conditions but the company has failed to act which is completely unacceptable.
‘A profitable company such as Arriva could easily invest in improving conditions for its drivers and protecting the general public but is instead prioritising greed. We will back our members all the way in this dispute.’
TfL said: ‘We are working together on a range of measures to further improve working conditions, health and wellbeing.
‘We are committed to ensuring that all staff have a fair work schedule, with safe vehicles and access to the facilities they need to carry out their roles effectively.
‘We would like to reassure colleagues again that any reports from drivers are always fully investigated and our operators should never take action against people raising concerns about welfare.’
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