Nearly 1,000 London bus drivers employed by Abellio plan to strike for ten days in a dispute over pay.

The industrial action begins on Tuesday, November 22 and will impact bus routes across south and west London, with the striking drivers based at garages in Southall, Twickenham, Walworth, Battersea, Beddington and Hayes.

Following November 22, drivers will also strike on November 25 and 26. Further strikes will take follow on 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17 December.

The drivers union, Unite, says Abellio's failure to offer pay increases is "coldhearted and callous".

Unite regional officer Guy Langston said: "The strike action will cause widespread disruption across the London bus network, most notably in South and West London, but this dispute is entirely of Abellio's own making.

"It has had every opportunity to enter into meaningful pay negotiations, but it has chosen not to do so."

Starter salaries for bus drivers at Abellio vary between £15.22 - £17.74 / hour with drivers are required to work a minimum of 38 hours a week.

Without working additional shifts this is an annual salary range of £27,761 - £32,357.

advertisement

Unite says that Abellio can maintain its schedules only from a huge reliance on overtime.

Drivers benefits include free travel on all Transport for London (TfL) routes, an annual bonus and a £2,000 welcome bonus.

West London routes operated by Abellio

• 195 ~ Charville Lane - Wood End - Hayes - Bulls Bridge - Southall - Ealing Hospital - Hanwell - Boston Manor - Brentford
• 207 ~ Hayes By-Pass - Hanwell - Ealing - Acton - Shepherd's Bush - White City
• 267 ~ Fulwell - Twickenham - Isleworth - Brentford - Turnham Green - Hammersmith
• 278 ~ Ruislip - Ickenham - Hillingdon - Hayes End - Wood End - Hayes - Harlington - Heathrow Central
• 427 ~ Uxbridge - Ealing Hospital - Ealing Broadway - Acton
• E5 ~ Southall, Toplocks Estate – Perivale, Tesco
• E7 ~ Ruislip Station – Earling Broadway, Haven Greem
• E10 ~ Islip Manor - Northolt - Smith's Farm - Ferrymead - Greenford - Castlebar Hill - Ealing
• E11 ~ Greenford - Elthorne Heights - Castle Bar Park - West Ealing - Ealing - Warwick Drive
• H20 ~ Hounslow - Ivybridge via Worton Road
• H25 ~ Hatton Cross - Butts Farm via Bedfont, Feltham and Hanworth
• H26 ~ Hatton Cross - Sparrow Farm via Bedfont, Bedfont Lakes and Feltham
• H28 ~ Bulls Bridge - Osterley (Tesco) via Heston, Hounslow and Spring Grove
• U5 ~ Hayes - Stockley Park - Stockley Estate - West Drayton - Falling Lane - Colham Green - Pield Heath - Cowley - Uxbridge
• N207 - Uxbridge - Hayes End - Southall - Hanwell - Ealing - Acton - Shepherd's Bush - Oxford Circus - Holborn