London bus passengers face disruption this week due to a strike by drivers in disputes over pay and circumstances.
Greater than 2,000 members of the Unite union who’re employed by French-owned RATP will take motion from Monday.
RATP operates three subsidiaries throughout the London bus community – London United, London Sovereign and High quality Line.
Employees at London United, which supplies bus companies in south and west London, will strike for 3 days from Monday, whereas these at High quality Line, primarily based at a depot in Epsom, Surrey, will take motion on Monday and Tuesday.
Unite members at London Sovereign, which runs companies in north-west London, will stroll out on Monday and once more on March 3.
Unite officer Michelle Braveboy stated the strikes will trigger “severe disruption” to companies, including that phrases and circumstances are being “attacked”, with some drivers going through a pay lower of £2,500 a 12 months.
“Our members haven’t any possibility aside from to struggle again towards these assaults, whereas recognising the disruption induced,” she stated.
“They’re reluctant to take strike motion at a time of nationwide emergency, however really feel they’ve been pushed towards the wall.”
Transport for London (TfL) stated industrial motion will solely have an effect on a small proportion of the capital’s buses, with 59 day routes, six 24-hour routes, six evening routes and 9 faculty routes – primarily in south-west London – anticipated to be hit.
TfL stated it can guarantee as many bus companies run as potential however prospects in west, south-west and north-west London and components of Surrey and Hertfordshire are suggested to verify earlier than they journey from Monday.
Regular companies are anticipated to renew on Thursday morning.
Claire Mann, director of Bus Operations at TfL, stated: “Clients ought to verify earlier than they journey and go away extra time for his or her journeys, whereas remembering the Authorities’s recommendation to proceed to remain at residence if they’ll.
“We urge all events to sit down down and speak via the problems to attempt to resolve them as quickly as potential.”
What routes will likely be disrupted?
The London United routes which will likely be affected between Monday February 22 and Wednesday February 24 are: 18, 33, 65, 70, 71, 72, 85, 94, 110, 111, 116, 148, 203, 216, 220, 223, 224, 265, 266, 281, 283, 371, 406, 411, 418, 419, 423, 440, 613, 662, 665, 671, 681, 696, 697, 465, N18, N33, N65, N72, N266, C1, H22, H32, H37, H98, K1, K2, K3, K4 and K5
The High quality Line routes which will likely be affected are: 293, 404, 413, 463, 467, 470, 633, S1, S3
The London Sovereign routes which will likely be affected are: 79, 142, 183, 251, 258, 288, 303, 326, 395, 398, 642, N5, H9, H10, H11, H12, H14, H17, H18 and H19
The transport physique has suggested all passengers to verify the standing of their bus journey earlier than they journey from Monday 22 February.
RATP was approached for remark however couldn’t reply in time.
