TRAVELLING around Britain is starting to become a distant dream of a bygone era as more planned strikes loom.
Bus workers are to be added to the growing list of people opting to take industrial action over conditions.
Bus worker strikes will bring more chaos to our infrastructureCredit: Getty Images – Getty
When will the bus strike take place?
The planned strike action is being taken by Abellio bus services, with the following dates earmarked:
- Wednesday January 4, 2023
- Thursday January 5, 2023
- Tuesday January 10, 2023
- Thursday January 12, 2023
- Monday January 16, 2023
- Thursday January 19, 2023
- Wednesday January 25, 2023
- Thursday January 26, 2023
What routes will be on strike?
Tfl have announced that the following daytime routes will be affected by the planned strikes:
3, 27, 45, 63, 68, 109, 130, 156, 195, 196, 201, 207, 267, 270, 278, 315, 322, 350, 367, 381, 407, 415, 427, 433, 464, 482, 490, 969, C10, E5, E7, E10, E11, H20, H25, H28, H26, P5, P13, R68, R70, S4, U5, U7, U9.
It will also affect the following night routes too:
N3, N27, N63, N68, N109, N207, N381.
Some of the 24-hour routes to be affected:
24, 111, 159, 285, 344, 345.
Tfl also commented “Route 481 will operate but with fewer services on weekdays from 07:30-08:00, and from 15:00-16:00. Remaining services will be busier than normal.”
Why are bus drivers on strike?
Bus drivers employed by Abellio are striking as part of their dispute over pay.
It will mainly affect South and West London.
They are believed to be among the lowest paid in London, with their colleagues on Metroline in North and West London having recently settled on a 11% pay increase with a 10% increase on back pay.
Abellio drivers have instructed their union to get involved in matters and Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said:
“Abellio is content to horde mountains of cash but has imposed a completely unacceptable pay offer on its drivers.
“It is disgraceful behaviour and our members are rightly furious.
“Unite always fights to defend and improve members’ jobs, pay and conditions and Abellio’s South and West London workforce have their union’s unflinching support.”
The huge increase in inflation along with soaring living costs in the country are causing people to struggle financially and take such industrial action.
Workers of industries so key to the infrastructure of the country have the potential to cause travel chaos, which is the intention, to get Abellio in this instance to take note.
It remains to be seen whether the tactics force the company to sit back at the table for further talks about workers’ pay.