Parts of London are set for bus “chaos” later this month when the capital is hit by a fresh wave of strikes by drivers locked in an ongoing dispute over pay.
Unite announced on Tuesday that more than 1,700 of its members employed in the capital by bus firm Arriva will walk out on June 20 and 21 and June 27 and 28 after voting to reject a seven per cent pay offer.
The strikes will predominantly affect routes in north and east London, with drivers striking from bus garages in Ash Grove, Barking, Clapton, Edmonton, Enfield, Palmers Green, Tottenham and Wood Green.
TfL has confirmed the routes that will be affected are: 19, 29, 34, 38, 41, 73, 78, 102, 121, 123, 141, 144, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 221, 242, 243, 253, 254, 259, 279, 307, 313, 318, 325, 329, 340, 341, 349, 377, 675, W3, W4, W6, N19, N29, N38, N41, N73, N102, N123, N149, N158, N242, N243, N253, N279, N341
Unite said further strikes will be called if the dispute is not resolved.
North London braced for bus chaos as Arriva drivers strike over pay.https://t.co/juZpVTAzM3 pic.twitter.com/KuaRlzTvH5
— Unite London & Eastern (@UniteLondonEast) June 6, 2023
It claimed Arriva - owned by Deutsche Bahn, the national railway company of Germany - is effectively owned by the German government.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Arriva is an extremely wealthy company but it has got its priorities all wrong.
“It needs to be concentrating on paying its workers fairly rather than providing the German government with huge dividends.”
Unite regional officer Steven Stockwell said: “The strike action is set to create travel chaos across London but this dispute is totally of Arriva’s own making. It has had every chance to make our members an offer that meets their expectations but has refused to do so.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “We encourage both parties to get round the table and find a solution.”
Arriva and TfL have been approached by the Standard for a comment.
