More than 1,600 bus drivers will walk out over pay
Bus drivers in London are set to strike later this month, on the same day as staff for London Underground and Overground also walk out.
Employees of London United who are members of Unite will walk out on August 19 and 20. The first day of the strike coincides with that of train staff in the capital, and is set to cause commuter chaos for millions.
The union has said the company was offering drivers a pay increase of 3.6% in 2022 and 4.2% next year, which it described as a real terms pay cut because of soaring inflation.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The parent company RATP is fabulously wealthy and it can fully afford to pay our members a decent wage increase.
“Unite’s members play a crucial role in keeping London moving and they are not going to accept seeing their pay constantly eroded.
“Unite does what it says on the trade union tin and always defends the jobs, pay and conditions of its members.
“Our members at London United will receive the union’s complete support until this dispute is resolved and a fair pay offer secured.”
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The strike action will affect workers based at Fulwell, Hounslow, Hounslow Heath, Park Royal, Shepherd’s Bush, Stamford Brook, and Tolworth depots.
On August 19, around 10,000 workers on the London Underground will strike over a pension dispute, whilst almost 400 workers for Arriva Rail London will strike over pay.
Meanwhile, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) said its members at seven train companies will also walk out on August 18 and 20, the same day as major strike action announced by the RMT.
The next upcoming strike is set to take place on August 13, when train drivers at nine rail companies will walk out.
This will be followed by a 40,000 workers – around 20,000 from Network Rail, and the remainder from 14 train operating companies – taking part in the strike action on August 18 and 20.
Related links:
- How Mick Lynch accidentally became the best Labour leader the UK has seen in years
- Call centre workers vote for national strike action, in light of ‘insulting pay cuts’
- Royal Mail workers could be next to strike as fears grow of new ‘Winter of Discontent‘
