Abellio bus drivers win 18% pay rise after weeks of strike action

Image above: Abellio buses; photograph Unite the Union

Drivers will now be paid £18 an hour

The long running industrial dispute involving over 1,800 bus drivers employed by London bus operator Abellio has ended after workers have accepted a greatly improved pay offer.

Members of Unite employed by Abellio have been staging a series of walkouts in recent months, disrupting journeys in south and west London. Unite said the victory was hard won, with the workforce taking over 20 days of strike action beginning late last year to secure the pay increase.

Following a workplace ballot, Unite the Union announced on Monday (13 February) that affiliated workers accepted a pay increase which will see drivers with over two years’ service being paid £18 an hour. This equates to a pay increase of 18% on the basic rate.

The agreement also includes increases to all rates including overtime and rest day working. Negotiations over the past few weeks also saw an increase to the rate for new starters, increased rates for Saturday/Sunday working. The union also won the £18 per hour for drivers who transferred to Abellio under TUPE legislation and had not previously been made the offer.

Crucially, Unite said, a commitment to immediately negotiate a new scheduling agreement was also secured, including early agreement regarding scheduling rest breaks and start times in order to bring the dispute to an end.

In addition to the pay increase, the union’s campaign has resulted in one of Unite’s reps within Abellio being reinstated, after they had initially been dismissed on “trumped up charges”. The union had made clear that there would be no resolution to the dispute without the reinstatement of the rep.

Image above: Sharon Graham – Unite General Secretary 

‘Workers standing firm has secured their pay increase’

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“This is an important pay victory. Workers have stood firm and with the support of their union, Unite, they have secured a richly deserved pay increase.

“Unite’s constant focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of our members is continuing to deliver increased pay awards for workers.”

Unite regional officer Guy Langston, said:

“This pay deal could not have been secured without the hard work of Unite’s reps and the commitment of its members. Unite will be looking to build on its increased industrial strength in future pay negotiations.

“The pay victory at Abellio is a further example of why those wanting better wages and working conditions should join Unite and get their colleagues to join as well.”

Speaking last week before the Unite members voted to accept the deal, Jon Eardley, Managing Director of Abellio London, said:

“This is the best deal we are going to get, and it’s a very good deal.

“We want to ensure that bus driving is an attractive job and good, secure work. No-one should need to do overtime to pay their bills.”

Throughout January the industrial action hit a number of bus services:

Day routes: 3, 27, 45, 63, 68, 109, 130, 156, 195, 196, 201, 207, 267, 270, 278, 315, 322, 350, 367, 381, 407, 415, 427, 433, 464, 482, 490, 969, C10, E5, E7, E10, E11, H20, H25, H28, H26, P5, P13, R68, R70, S4, U5, U7, U9.

Night routes: N3, N27, N63, N68, N109, N207, N381

24-hour routes: 24, 111, 159, 285, 344, 345

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