Strike action resumes
Around 1,500 bus drivers represented by the Unite union began a four-day strike on Tuesday, halting services across parts of north London and Essex. The action, which runs through Friday, follows industrial action earlier this month and comes amid concerns about drivers being required to work in high temperatures during recent heatwaves.
Dispute over air-conditioning retrofit
Drivers say they are taking action because an offer from their employer to retrofit driver cabs with air conditioning on 730 buses may not be delivered in time to protect staff through next summer. The union and members have expressed doubt about the timescale for the promised upgrades and say the current arrangements leave drivers exposed to unsafe working conditions when temperatures rise.
Planned further stoppages
Unite confirmed that additional stoppages are planned in the coming weeks if the dispute is not resolved. The ongoing action highlights wider questions about workforce safety and employer commitments to upgrading vehicles amid increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat.
Impact and context
The strikes are likely to disrupt local bus services, affecting commuters and residents who rely on public transport in the affected areas. The dispute underscores mounting tensions between transport workers and operators over workplace conditions and the pace of investment in vehicle improvements, without indicating any resolution or timetable from the operator or the union beyond the retrofit proposal.