More bus drivers set to strike on Friday

10:18am Sunday 5th October 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

HUNDREDS more bus drivers are set to join strike action over pay this month.

Two strikes in September by 3,500 drivers caused chaos for commuters, and now 2,500 more workers, all members of the Unite unions, have agreed to join the action.

Drivers and other staff working at bus depots are unhappy at unequal levels of pay for people doing the same job across the network in London.

Members of Transdev Sovereign, which covers garages in northwest London, have now agreed to join the action planned for this Friday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 22.

Peter Kavanagh, Unite Senior Regional Organiser, says: “There is a startling disparity between bus drivers pay in the capital, with rosters in some companies seeing many drivers’ complete nearly 60 hours per week.

“Not only is this unsafe, it is unfair to have bus workers across London doing the same job for less money or having to put in much longer hours.

“Our members will continue to strike and we will continue to ballot further bus companies until Boris Johnson listens up and engages in serious discussions for equal pay for all London bus workers.”

Bus garages affected by the strike are Greenford, Hayes, Alperton, Uxbridge, Harrow Weald, North Wembley, Edgeware and Perivale.