Bus Strikes Planned for Three Consecutive Wednesdays

---

Talks fail to resolve dispute between drivers and operating companies

London bus drivers from Harrow Garage on strike

There are more bus strikes planned on Wednesday 17, Wednesday 24 and Wednesday 31 March.

If the strikes are likely to affect around 80 bus services, including some school and night routes.

The drivers are employees of RATP Dev London which oversees London United, Quality Line and London Sovereign. Members of the Unite union are taking industrial action over separate disputes at the three companies. At London Sovereign the issue is about pay in which an offer was made to drivers well below that given to employees of other firms.

The London United dispute over what Unite claims is the company seeking to use the Covid-19 pandemic as cover to slash the pay and conditions of drivers. It says drivers face cuts in pay of £2,500 per annum, reducing pay to 2015 rates, with workers expected to work far longer for the lower pay rates.

Unite members at London United, which operates services mainly in areas such as White City, Shepherd’s Bush, Ealing, Acton, Chiswick, Putney and Wimbledon are striking for three days.

Talks were held last week in an attempt to resolve the dispute, but the union says that RATP was not prepared to change its position and talks broke up without agreement.

Unite regional officer Michelle Braveboy said, “Bus drivers are not taking strike action during a pandemic lightly, this is a last resort as RATP has refused to enter into meaningful negotiations.

“The latest strikes will inevitably cause serious disruption across the London bus network but I hope that passengers will understand this is the result of RATP's greed.

“Unite’s members are angry and insulted, they have risked their health to keep London moving throughout the pandemic and the only thanks they have received is attacks on their pay and conditions.

“Our drivers recognise that RATP is a highly profitable company that appears to be prepared to invest in everything apart from its drivers. Yet without drivers its services would instantly grind to a halt.”

Transport for London announced on 16 March that Quality Line and London Sovereign drivers would no longer strike that day.

It is understood that was because RATP has offered a new set of pay and terms, which will now be considered by Unite members.

London Sovereign drivers have been offered an improved pay rise and a lump sum, whereas Quality Line drivers have been offered only a lump sum. The exact amounts have not been disclosed.

Drivers from London Sovereign and Quality Line will soon reballot on the new offer before deciding whether to accept or to strike again on Wednesday March 24 and 31.

London United drivers have been offered no improvement and are still due to strike on 17 March.

Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s director of public transport service planning, said,  ‘We will do everything possible to reduce the disruption if this strike action goes ahead, but customers who need to travel should again check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys. We urge RATP Dev London and Unite the union to resolve the issue as soon as possible.’   

The routes affected by the strike action will be those emanating from the following RATP garages: Edgware, Epsom, Fulwell, Harrow, Hounslow, Park Royal, Shepherd’s Bush and Tolworth.

Bus routes listed below as London United are set to be affected by strikes on all three Wednesdays - 17, 24 and 31 March. London Sovereign and Quality Line routes will operate on 17 March with a vote to be taken on continuing industrial action on the following two Wednesdays. 

 

Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site.

 

March 17, 2021