Press Release

Six thousand bus drivers take strike action over pay inequality

10 October 2008

Today (Friday 10th October) 6,000 bus drivers will be out on a 24 hour strike to protest at the huge pay disparity between the eighteen London bus companies.

Unite the union submitted a London wide claim to all bus operators in March of this year to challenge the current system whereby drivers (and other grades) performing identical jobs within the TfL regulated industry, receive hugely varying pay and conditions.

Unite members working at Metroline, Metrobus and First Group will be out on picket lines including Westbourne Park, Holloway and Croydon from 3am on Friday.

Unite is calling for a single rate of pay for drivers of £30,000 a year, based on a 38 hour week. Currently the eighteen London bus companies all operate with different pay structures, with pay inequalities of up to £7,000 a year.

Peter Kavanagh, Unite Senior Regional Official says;
“Our members are striking because of the Employers’ and Boris Johnson’s failure to listen to them. There is a shocking difference between bus drivers pay in London, with rosters in some companies seeing many drivers’ complete nearly 60 hours per week.

“Unite will continue to ballot further bus companies to join those drivers already out on strike until serious discussions have taken place to try and implement equal pay for all London bus workers.”

Arriva South and Arriva North, and East London Bus Group and East Thames Busses (owned by Boris Johnson’s TfL) were balloted last week in time for strike action planned for Wednesday 22nd October.