[title]
The upcoming Abellio London bus strikes have been called off after drivers accepted a pay rise. Due to take place on Monday February 20 and Tuesday February 21, bus services in south and west London will continue running as normal. Bus drivers who have worked for over two years will now be paid £18 per hour by Abellio.
Who’s on strike today in the UK?
Find all the details here.
Why were the strikes called off?
After months of strikes, the union and the bus firm finally came to an agreement over pay. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the wage rise was an 'important pay victory'.
'Workers have stood firm and with the support of their union, Unite, they have secured a richly deserved pay increase,' she added.
The wage increase amounts to a rise of 18 percent on the basic rate, while the overtime and rest-day working rates will also be raised.
A spokesperson for Abellio London said the 'substantial pay rise' amounted to an increase of about £100 a week, making the company 'one of the highest-paying operators in London'.
They added: 'It was disappointing that strikes unnecessarily continued into February despite this fantastic offer being made at the beginning of the year.'
Are there other London public transport strikes planned?
Rail strikes affecting London already took place earlier this month February 1 and 3, and there are likely to be more on the way. The RMT confirmed there will be a further six months of strikes across National Rail and London Underground in 2023 following a ballot: 94 percent of its members voted to continue industrial action over pay and pensions.
Aslef, the main tube drivers’ union, will also ballot its members over strikes that would shut down the Underground. Two thousand members will vote on action over feared changes to working conditions and pensions. The result is expected on February 15, meaning tube strikes could be in early March.
Don’t bother getting a cab. London still has the worst traffic in the world.