London bus travel could be disrupted with over 2,100 workers set to strike

Over 2,000 bus drivers in London could walk out in a fresh round of strikes. Workers have been left fuming at a proposed three per cent pay offer, which they point out is a real-terms pay cut. This is less than the Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation, which was 5.1 per cent on December 2023, when the pay increase should have been implemented.

They are also angry at an 'unacceptable scheduling agreement', reports union Unite.

Workers across London United and London Transit, which are both part of the French state-owned RATP Group, are being balloted.

This includes more than 300 London Transit staff (ballot closes July 31), 100 London United engineers at eight garages (August 1), and 1,600 London United workers (July 22).

The engineers have been offered 3.6 per cent, also a real-terms pay cut.

READ MORE: 300 Gatwick Airport staff set to strike over summer amid pay row

The London United workers are based across South, West and Central London. London Transit drivers and engineers are based at Westbourne Park bus garage in Notting Hill, West London.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “RATP is a multi-billion pound company and can more than afford to put forward reasonable pay offers for its London Transit and London United workers. It must also properly consult with Unite to ensure that its scheduling agreements are fit for purpose. Unite is offering complete support to our members as they ballot for strike action.”

Unite regional officer Michelle Braveboy said: “RATP bears all the responsibility for the bus chaos its refusal to offer fair deals to London Transit and London United workers will cause. There is enough time left for strikes to be avoided, but that will require acceptable offers being tabled by RATP.”

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