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Thought London’s strikes were limited to our train network? Think again. Alongside the industrial action planned for the capital’s rail services in May (read more about that here), strikes have been taking place on buses, too.
Last week it was announced that several bus routes, primarily in southwest London, were to be affected by strike action from control rooms workers employed by Transport UK (previously known as Abellio). The 40 controllers, whose job it is to instruct drivers on accidents and traffic jams, ensuring buses run on time, work in Battersea and Twickenham.
Today (May 3), however, those strikes have officially been called off. The workers have received an improved pay offer, and will now vote on whether to approve it.
Abellio/Transport UK control room staff previously walked out over six days in January and February, and eight days in March.
When are the London bus strikes?
The strikes were supposed to take place on May 8, 9 and 10 and then from May 13-17. All action has now been called off.
Which bus routes will be affected?
Quite a few routes were set to be disrupted, all based at Battersea and Twickenham bus garages. The most notable routes likely to be impacted were the 24, 27, 111, 156, 159, 267, 285, 322, 344, 345, 415, 490, 969, H20, H25, H26, R68 and R70.
Those routes would still have run on strike days, but they’d likely have been busier than usual.
Why are bus control room staff striking?
Workers were striking as part of an ongoing pay dispute. According to Unite, Transport UK (FKA Abellio) control room staff were offered just a 5 percent pay rise for 2023, which the union called a ‘substantial real-terms pay cut’.
Unite also says these workers already earn up to £10,000 less a year than similar staff at other bus companies.
Are there other public transport strikes planned in London?
Yep, there most certainly are. Further strikes are set to take place on train networks across the UK from May 7-9 (you can find out more about those strikes here) and there are currently strikes by border force staff at Heathrow.
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