Over 2,000 London bus drivers will strike from 4 October until pay issue is resolved, Unite says

Credit: PA Archive

London is facing an all-out bus strike in October by more than 2,000 drivers who say they will walk-out until their pay dispute is resolved.

More than 2,000 London bus drivers employed by Arriva plan to strike continuously from 2am on Tuesday 4 October, union Unite announced on Wednesday.

The strike is expected to affect 49 routes throughout north and east London.

The drivers are seeking a pay increase "in line with the real inflation rate," Unite said.

"Arriva has totally failed to address the strength of feeling among our members as they see their rates of pay eroded," Unite regional officer Steve Stockwell said in a statement.

"The company needs to return to the negotiating table with an offer which meets workers' reasonable expectations."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the firm, which is owned by the German-based rail company Deutsche Bahn, "has put profits before people".

Arriva said it is "disappointed" with the decision and said the pay rise it has already offered drivers is "generous".

Alex Jones, Operations Director for Arriva UK Bus London, said the firm had offered an increase "far higher than most workers are receiving from their employers at a time of considerable economic pressure".

"Any pay settlement must be affordable and strike action is counter-productive, harms the communities and customers we serve, and damages bus travel at a time when we should all be focused on building recovery from the pandemic," he said.

"We are continuing discussions with Unite, with the aim of securing a positive outcome that delivers a fair and affordable pay rise for bus workers across the region."

The planned strike affects Arriva drivers operating from eight depots: Ash Grove, Barking, Clapton, Edmonton, Enfield, Palmers Green, Tottenham and Wood Green.

It comes as widespread strike action is planned among train drivers next month, with walk-outs at 12 train companies on 1 October and 5 October in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

Rail, Maritime and Transport union members at Network Rail and 14 train operators will strike on 1 October.

Routes set to be affected by planned strike action:

From Ash Grove

  • 48 Walthamstow Central - London Bridge

  • 78 Shoreditch - Nunhead

  • 106 Finsbury Park - Whitechapel

  • 254 Holloway - Aldgate

From Barking

  • 128 Claybury - Romford

  • 150 Chigwell Row - Becontree Heath

  • 175 Dagenham - North Romford

  • 325 East Beckton - Prince Regent

  • 368 Barking - Chadwell Heath

From Clapton

  • 38 Clapton Pond - Victoria

  • 73 Stoke Newington - Oxford Circus

  • 242 Homerton Hospital - Aldgate

  • 253 Hackney Central - Euston

  • N38 Victoria Station - Walthamstow Central

  • N73 Walthamstow Central - Oxford Circus

  • N242 Homerton Hospital - St Paul's

  • N253 Tottenham Court Road Station - Aldgate

From Edmonton

  • 158 Chingford Mount – Stratford

  • 259 Edmonton Green - Kings Cross

  • N279 Trafalgar Square - Waltham Cross

From Enfield

  • 121 Turnpike Lane - Enfield Island Village

  • 279 Waltham Cross - Manor House

  • 313 Potters Bar - Chingford Station

  • 318 North Middlesex Hospital - Stamford Hill Garage

  • 349 Ponders End - Stamford Hill Garage

  • 377 Oakwood Station - Ponders End

  • W6 Southgate Station - Edmonton Green

From Palmers Green

  • 102 Brent Cross - Edmonton Green

  • 141 Palmers Green - London Bridge Station

  • 329 Enfield Town - Turnpike Lane

  • 340 Edgware Station - Harrow Bus Station

  • 675 Walthamstow St. James’s St. – Woodbridge High School

  • N102 Golders Green - Edmonton Green

From Tottenham

  • 19 Finsbury Park - Battersea

  • 41 Tottenham Hale - Archway

  • 123 Ilford - Wood Green

  • 149 Edmonton Green - London Bridge

  • 230 Wood Green - Upper Walthamstow

  • 243 Wood Green – Waterloo

  • 318 Stamford Hill – North Middlesex Hospital

  • 341 Northumberland Park - Westminster (County Hall)

  • N19 Finsbury Park - Clapham Junction

  • N41 Tottenham Hale - Trafalgar Square

From Wood Green

  • 29 Wood Green - Trafalgar Square

  • 144 Edmonton Green - Muswell Hill

  • 221 Edgware Station - Turnpike Lane

  • W3 Finsbury Park - Northumberland Park

  • W4 Ferry Lane Estate - Oakthorpe Park

  • N29 Trafalgar Square - Enfield Town

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