“Stop pleading poverty” say London bus drivers as they plan strikes for equal pay across the capital

London Bus strike.
Pic: MK_Web

Drivers from eighteen different bus companies will go on strike across the capital tomorrow.

Workers will take to the streets to protest for equal pay and improved conditions for all drivers across London.

Employees from the city’s biggest bus companies, Arriva North and Arriva South, London United, Hackney Community Transport and the East London Bus and Coach Company are planning to take part in the strike.

Wayne King, regional officer for the bus driver’s union, Unite, said: “London’s bus operators have raked in millions in profits while driving down pay and refusing to tackle pay inequality on the capital’s buses. As bus company directors enjoy lottery style salaries, bus drivers doing the same job on the same route are being pitted against one another on different rates of pay.”

“Strike action is the last resort. We’ve been forced into this position by the operators’ refusal to even meet with us. Passengers sitting side by side on the same route expect to pay the same fare, so why shouldn’t drivers expect to be paid the same rate?

“The bus operators need to stop pleading poverty in defending pay inequality and collectively start negotiating about a fairer deal for London’s bus workers.”

The strike will affect services from 4:00 am Tuesday January 13, as well as the operation of night bus services on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.