More bus strikes loom as Ealing routes likely to be affected

By Dimitris Kouimtsidis 26th Aug 2021

Local News by Dimitris Kouimtsidis 26th Aug 2021

The 65 bus route is among those affected

FURTHER strikes by bus drivers are looming and will affect local services.

A dispute between drivers at London United and the bus operator RATP looks set to continue after drivers voted yes to further walk-outs.

More strikes are planned for Friday April 23, Monday April 26, Friday May 7 and Saturday May 8.

The dispute is over the company's proposed pay offers to resolve the 2019 and 2020 pay claims which the drivers' union, Unite, has rejected.

Unite claims the company tried to insert controversial clauses into drivers' contracts.

Unite regional officer Michelle Braveboy said: "Our members have worked throughout the pandemic, risking their health and that of their families and frankly the offer put forward by RATP is insulting.

"RATP appears to have plenty of money to pay its corporate fat cats and invest in refurbishing its offices, but when it comes to paying the bus drivers who are essential to its operation it claims the cupboard is bare.

"Bus drivers understand that by going on strike passengers in London will face substantial disruption to their journeys, but they feel that they have been left with no option as a direct result of the company's failure to make a fair offer.

"Unite has always made it clear that the union is available for talks at any time and if RATP is prepared to come forward with an offer that our members find acceptable then strikes planned for the coming weeks can be averted."

RATP said its offer "includes the best possible pay rise above inflation and no changes to terms and conditions".

It added that its London bus operators have made losses for the last two years.