London Bus Strikes to Resume this Week as 1,500 Drivers Walk Out – Full List of 42 Routes Hit

Unite are encouraging Arriva North London to come back to the table to ‘stop this disruptive action’

London bus drivers are pushing on with strikes this week after rejecting attempts to resolve a dispute over working in hot weather. The strike action will impact 42 routes as 1,500 members of Unite in North London and Essex walk out after rejecting an offer from Arriva North London.

The Unite members initially paused their strikes which were meant to happen between August 19 to 21 following negotiations between the union and the employer. Workers were balloted on a new offer which they felt did not go far enough to solve the problems of hot weather working.

The union said its members voted against an offer to resolve the row. Strikes will restart on Tuesday (August 25) for four days until Friday (August 25), followed by multiple dates in September and October.

Outlining the basis of the disagreement, a Unite spokesperson said most Arriva North London buses have air cooling systems rather than more effective air conditioning. The air cooling system has only managed to reduce temperatures by around two or three degrees during the recent series of heatwaves, with cabs exceeding 40C.

Unite argues this put drivers at increased danger of fatigue and also led some to suffer health problems including heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration. Drivers will walkout from the following garages: Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, and Wood Green.

The 42 London bus routes facing little to no service during the strike days are: 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.

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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.

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“Until that happens, strike action will continue and our members at Arriva North London will continue to have the full backing of Unite.”

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.”

Full list of remaining strike dates in August, September and October

All strikes begin at 4am and finish at 4.30am on the final day strike action. Many of these dates in August and September coincide with closures of the Piccadilly line while new trains are being tested to maximise disruption across North London.

August

• Tuesday, August 25 – Friday, August 28

September

• Friday, September 4 – Saturday, September 5
• Monday, September 7 – Tuesday, September 8
• Friday, September 18 – Saturday, September 19
• Monday, September 21 – Tuesday, September 22

October

• Friday, October 2 – Saturday, October 3
• Monday, October 5 – Tuesday, October 6
• Friday, October 16 – Saturday, October 17
• Monday, October 19 – Tuesday, October 20

Source: www.mylondon.news