A London bus driver claims his pay was docked after he refused to work in a cab with faulty air conditioning during a heatwave, despite recent assurances from Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) that drivers would not be penalised for such refusals.
Driver's account of the incident
John, who has not provided his surname due to fear of repercussions from his employer Transport UK, said he was penalised for taking his bus back to the depot on Wednesday, July 29, when outside temperatures reached 34C. He told MyLondon that his first bus had working air conditioning, but when he took over a second bus at 11:30am, the driver he replaced warned him there was no AC. Within three minutes of setting off, John said he could feel intense heat.
When he informed the controller, John claims he was given two options: continue driving with regular comfort breaks, or return the bus to the depot to find another. He chose the second option, but upon arriving at the depot, no replacement bus was available. An operations manager then told him he had been removed from duty for refusing to drive, meaning he would not be paid for the remaining 90 minutes of his shift.
Safety concerns and mayoral assurances
John accused Transport UK of ignoring safety guidelines set by Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL Commissioner Andy Lord, both of whom have stated that drivers are not required to operate faulty buses if it puts lives at risk. In June, Sir Sadiq told LBC that any bus driver who fears their cab is too hot to operate safely will not be penalised for refusing to work. Earlier in July, City Hall unanimously backed a motion calling for a bus driver 'Bill of Rights' to be included in operator contracts.
John said he told the manager: “We have the mayor, we have Andy Lord both on video saying, no AC, the drivers have the right to refuse.” The manager reportedly replied: “You work for who?... You have to follow our policies. Our policy on this is if the little fan in the cab is working, then the bus is fit. So, you're refusing a fit bus according to us.” John said the temperature inside his cab exceeded 40C.
Wider implications for bus drivers
Despite mayoral and TfL assurances, many bus drivers claim operators can ignore safety concerns without facing repercussions. Transport UK has been approached for comment but has not yet responded. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between bus operators and drivers over working conditions, particularly during heatwaves when faulty air conditioning can pose serious health and safety risks.
