London braced for major bus strike as 1,600 drivers balloted over pay offer
Some 1,600 London United bus drivers have rejected a pay offer and will now vote on possible strike action, Unite the union has said.
The drivers are based at seven garages across west and south west London, including Park Royal and Fulwell.
If strike action were to go ahead, 70 strikes routes would be affected, including services in Chiswick, Brentford, Acton, Ealing, Putney and Hammersmith.
The threat comes as workers have rejected a four per cent pay rise offer. The union says it is a “real terms pay cut” as the real rate of inflation, RPI, was 5.1 per cent when the pay increase was supposed to be implemented in December 2023.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are sick and tired of their employer trying to suppress their pay. RATP Group brings in billions but is offering London United drivers a real terms pay cut on top of putting forward working conditions that are not fit for purpose.
“Unite is offering maximum support to our members at London United.”
London United is a bus operating company in the capital, contracted by Transport for London (TFL). It is part of the French state owned RATP Group, which had a turnover of €6.5 billion in 2023.
Unite regional officer Michelle Braveboy said: “London United will be directly responsible for any disruption caused to bus services in South, West and Central London.
“The company could have easily put forward a fair deal months ago but has refused to do so. There is still time to avoid strike action, but London United must table an offer our members can accept.”
The full list of routes which would be affected include:
-13
-18
-23
-33
-49
-65
-70
-71
-72
-85
-94
-105
-110
-116
-117
-148
-203
-211
-216
-218
-220
-223
-224
-228
-235
-258
-266
-272
-281
-283
-290
-293
-371
-406
-411
-418
-419
-423
-440
-465
-467
-613
-639
-655
-662
-665
-670
-681
-696
-697
-C1
-E3
-H17
-H22
-H37
-H98
-K1
-K2
-K3
-K4
-K5
-KU1
-KU2
-KU3
-N5
-N18
-N33
-N65
-N72
-N266
