- Over 1,500 Arriva drivers are set to strike starting Friday, 14 August, due to a dispute over hot working conditions and alleged union-busting.
- The first strike will begin at 4am on Friday, 14 August, and will last until 4:30am on Saturday, 15 August.
- Further walkouts are planned across 26 dates in August, September, and October, impacting more than 40 routes across London.
- Transport for London (TfL) has warned of little or no service on affected routes during the strike dates.
- Some of the August strikes will coincide with Piccadilly line closures, leading to significant delays.
- Unite union members at Arriva London North voted to strike due to health issues caused by hot weather, including heat exhaustion and dehydration.
- Drivers from eight bus garages are involved in the dispute, including Barking, Edmonton, and Enfield.
- Unite claims that Arriva North London has failed to act on driver complaints about working conditions during periods of hot weather.
- The union states that most Arriva buses use air-cooling systems rather than air conditioning, which only slightly reduces in-cab temperatures.
Over 1,500 Arriva bus drivers in London are striking due to unsafe working conditions exacerbated by extreme heat. The first walkout begins at 4am on August 14, with further strikes planned through October.
Unite claims that drivers have faced health issues like heat exhaustion and dehydration due to inadequate air cooling systems in buses, which only lower temperatures by two or three degrees.11
Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, criticized Arriva for prioritizing profits over driver safety, stating, ‘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.’
The strikes will affect over 40 routes across north, east, and central London, including night and school services.45
The first strike will run until 4:30am on August 15, with additional walkouts scheduled for August 18-21, August 25-28, and several dates in September and October.
Transport for London (TfL) has warned that little or no service is expected on affected routes, urging passengers to prepare for significant disruptions.6
Unite has also raised concerns about alleged union-busting practices by Arriva management, further complicating the dispute.
The union emphasizes that the strikes could be avoided if Arriva engages in discussions to improve working conditions.
“Unite says air-cooling systems cut cab temperatures by only two or three degrees, with interiors reaching 40°C or higher, causing heat exhaustion and dehydration. The union also alleges union-busting, while TfL urges passengers to plan ahead and check before traveling.”
The Independent
Time Out Worldwide
