North London bus drivers resume strike over cab cooling

More than 1,500 bus drivers employed by Arriva in North London and Essex are resuming industrial action on August 25th. The strikes, organised by the Unite union, are scheduled to continue intermittently until the end of October. Members rejected a new offer from Arriva, stating it did not sufficiently address concerns over working conditions during hot weather.

The dispute centres on the employer's failure to adequately cool bus cabs during summer heatwaves. Unite claims that most Arriva North London buses are equipped with air cooling systems, not full air conditioning. These systems have reportedly reduced cab temperatures by only two to three degrees during peak heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 40 degrees Celsius on the hottest days. The union argues that these conditions increase the risk of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration for drivers, potentially leading to accidents.

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Strike Schedule and Affected Services

The industrial action will commence with a four-day strike from August 25th to August 28th. Further strike dates include September 4th to 5th, September 7th to 8th, September 18th to 19th, September 21st to 22nd, October 2nd to 3rd, October 5th to 6th, October 16th to 17th, and October 19th to 20th. Services affected include routes such as the 19, 41, 141, 279, and W3, among many others, operating from garages in Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, and Wood Green.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham stated that Arriva has the financial capacity to implement acceptable changes. She added, "Until that happens, strike action will continue and our members at Arriva North London will continue to have the full backing of Unite." Arriva recently reported a pre-tax profit of €156 million and an operating profit of €127 million.

Transport for London (TfL), which commissions bus services from Arriva, has indicated it is working on a range of measures to improve driver working conditions and vehicle safety. Unite regional officer Steven Stockwell commented, "There is still time for Arriva to stop this disruptive action, but it relies on it coming back to the table with a deal our members believe will solve the serious problems with conditions once and for all."