Bus strikes planned 29 August and 1 September

‘Back to school chaos’ threatened by union

The bus drivers’ union Unite has promised ‘back- to-school chaos as bus strikes hit west London’.

Members of the union are taking strike action on Friday 29 August and Monday 1 September because, Unite says, they are ‘furious that not all elements of the new pay offer they have received from their employer are being backdated to the pay anniversary date in December’.

Nearly 2,000 workers at London United and London Transit – bus drivers, engineers and controllers – are going on strike. They stand to lose out on hundreds of pounds of back pay, says Unite, following the acquisition of the company by First Bus from the RATP earlier this year.

London United is also attempting to change the pay anniversary of some workers and is refusing to reinstate shift work premiums for others, the union says.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“This is underhand and disgraceful behaviour from a company making millions from London bus passengers. To try and refuse to pay money owed since December shows an utter disregard for its workers and the hard work they do day in, day out.

“Our members won’t stand for such behaviour and Unite will back them all the way in this dispute with a company that has a history of anti-worker behaviour.”

A spokesperson for First Bus London said:

“We are disappointed at the ballot result and the decision to proceed with industrial action. Strikes will cause inconvenience to the public and loss of earnings for our hard-working employees”.

London United and sister company London Transit operate from eight depots across West and South West London. These are: Fulwell, Hounslow, Hounslow Heath, Park Royal, Shepherds Bush, Stamford Brook, Tolworth and Westbourne Park.

They operate approximately 90 routes including those running into and out of central London. The routes which are likely to be affected by the strikes are:

13, 18, 23, 31, 33, 49, 65, 70, 71, 72, 85, 94, 105, 110, 116, 117, 148, 203, 216, 218, 220, 224, 235, 272, 281, 283, 290, 293, 295, 371, 406, 411, 418, 419, 423, 440, 452, 467, 613, 662, 665, 681, 696, 698, C1, E3, H22, H37, H98, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, KU1, KU2, KU3, N13, N18, N23, N31, N33, N65, N72, N85, N94, N105, N148, N220, N281, N295.

Tube strikes and engineering work on train line servicing Chiswick and Kew Bridge railway stations

The bus strike on Friday 29 August coincides with engineering work on the Hounslow Loop stretch of railway line which services Chiswick and Kew Bridge railway stations, which is scheduled to finish on Sunday 31 August.

READ ALSO: No trains through Chiswick Station 23-31 August, footbridge closed until 15 September

Workers on London Underground are also planning to strike at the end of that week, for seven days starting on Friday 5 September.

READ ALSO: Tube strike

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