More than 1,500 Arriva bus drivers in North London and Essex will stage a series of strikes over the coming months, disrupting bus journeys for passengers, after a dispute over working conditions during extreme heat. The walkouts, announced by Unite the union, will take place on 12 separate days between August 14 and October 20, with some coinciding with planned closures on the Piccadilly line.
Strike dates and affected garages
The strikes are scheduled for August 14-15, 18-21, 25-28; September 4-5, 7-8, 18-19, 21-22; and October 2-3, 5-6, 16-17, 19-20. The action will affect bus services from garages in Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, and Wood Green.
Unite accused Arriva North London, a Transport for London (TfL) contractor, of failing to address complaints about hot working conditions. The union claims that some drivers suffered heat stroke and dehydration during recent heatwaves, when temperatures approached 40°C.
Drivers' health concerns
Unite said that most London buses are fitted with air cooling systems rather than more effective air conditioning, which only reduces temperatures by a couple of degrees. Cab temperatures reached 40°C during the latest hot spells, increasing fatigue and health risks for drivers.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has previously stated that drivers should not work in unsafe conditions. Speaking to LBC in June, he said: 'Let me speak directly to bus drivers – if your cabin is too hot, I’ve given TfL permission, and told the bus operators, you must not be driving that bus.'
Union and company responses
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.'
Wasim Mohammed, Arriva London managing director, told Metro: 'We take the welfare of our drivers seriously and understand the impact of this extreme weather on them. We are working closely with Transport for London to support both our colleagues and customers during these hot spells. We’ve introduced short-term measures to protect drivers, and we’re investing in longer-term fixes, including cab air conditioning upgrades and our ongoing investment in new fleet. We remain ready to sit down with Unite at any time to discuss these important issues and find a resolution that avoids both strike action and the disruption it would cause to customers.'
Impact on passengers
A TfL spokesperson said the strike action is expected to hit local bus routes in north and some central London areas. However, the majority of the capital’s bus network will operate as planned on the strike days, they said. Some routes could be busier than usual, and passengers should plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys. TfL added: 'We encourage both parties to find a solution to this dispute and we’re sorry for any disruption to people’s journeys.'
