More than 1,500 bus drivers across North London and Essex resume industrial action from today after rejecting an offer from their employer.
A strike by Unite members at Arriva North London was paused last week while the union and the company negotiated. Drivers were then balloted on a new offer, but decided it did not go far enough to solve the problems of working in hot weather.
The strike restarts today, Tuesday 25th August, and runs for four days this week. It then continues on-and-off across several weeks until the end of October.
Unite members at Arriva North London say their employer failed to act on driver complaints about poor working conditions in hot weather. Most buses run by Arriva North London have air cooling systems rather than air conditioning, and Unite says the system has managed to reduce temperatures by only around two or three degrees during this summer's heatwaves, with driver cabs reaching as high as 40 degrees on the hottest days.
The union says this puts drivers and the public at risk, because it can lead to crashes, with staff potentially suffering heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration.
Transport for London, which commissions bus services from Arriva, says it is 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 €127million.
When the strikes fall
Strikes will 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 in the dispute are based at garages in Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green.
The 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.
The disruption is compounded by closures on the Piccadilly Line this week, from Tuesday 25th to Thursday 27th, and again 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."
