Over 27,000 bus drivers went on a 24-hour strike over a pay dispute today.
Members of the Unite union at 18 bus companies began the strike at 4am this morning. The strike is set to hit buses running from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
According to the BBC, only 44 out of London’s 673 bus routes are expected to operate today. Transport for London (TfL) said about 33% of its 7,500 buses were running.
The union has demanded an equal pay rate for all its drivers as presently there are more than 80 different pay rates for drivers doing the same job.
Wayne King, London regional officer for Unite, said: “London’s bus operators have raked in millions in profits while driving down pay and refusing to tackle pay inequality on the capital’s buses. As bus company directors enjoy lottery-style salaries, bus drivers doing the same job on the same route are being pitted against one another on different rates of pay.”
Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing director of surface transport, said: “It is extremely disappointing that Unite has decided to go ahead with this unnecessary disruption, especially given the low turnout for the ballot and low numbers voting for the strike. Bus drivers’ pay and conditions are a matter for the bus companies and Unite to discuss, as it has been for 20 years, and we continue to urge them to seek a swift and fair resolution for the sake of our passengers.”
Bus tickets and passes will be accepted on Tube, DLR and London Overground today due to #BusStrikeMore info: http://t.co/suGSPhwJkV
— TfL Bus Alerts (@TfLBusAlerts) January 13, 2015
According to TfL, the bus companies affected by the bus strike are:
· Abellio (Abellio London and Abellio West London)
· Arriva (Arriva North and Arriva South)
· CT Plus (Hackney Community Transport)
· Go Ahead (Blue Triangle, Docklands, London General, London Central, Metrobus)
· London Sovereign
· London United
· Metroline (Metroline and Metroline West)
· Stagecoach (East London Bus & Coach Company, Selkent)
· Tower Transit
Services not affected
A number of bus routes are not be affected by the strike and will run a normal service:
66 – Romford Station to Leytonstone bus station
142 – Watford Junction to Brent Cross Shopping Centre
160 – Catford to Sidcup Station
258 – Watford Junction to South Harrow Station
268 – Golders Green Station to Finchley Road
288 – Queensbury to Broadfields Estate
298 – Arnos Grove to Potters Bar
303 – Edgware Station to Colindale
305 – Edgware Station to Kingsbury Circle
340 – Edgware Station to Harrow Bus Station
346 – Upminster Station to Upminster Park Estate
370 – Romford to Lakeside Shopping Centre
375 – Romford Station to Passingford Bridge
404 – Coulsdon to Caterham-on-the-Hill
406 – Kingston to Epsom
411 – Kingston to West Molsey
418 – Kingston to Epsom
428 – Erith to Bluewater Shopping Centre
463 – Coulsdon South Station to Pollards Hill
465 – Kingston to Dorking
467 – Hook to Epsom
470 – Colliers Wood Station to Epsom
492 – Sidcup Station to Bluewater Shopping Centre
499 – Gallows Corner to Heath Park Estate
626 – Finchley Central Station to Potters Bar
628 – Kingsbury to Southgate Station
631 – Golders Green Station to Henrietta Barnett School
641 – West Molesey to Teddington School
642 – West Hendon Broadway/Edgware Station to London Academy
653 – Muswell Hill Broadway to Kingsbury
683 – Friern Barnet to Kingsbury
688 – Southgate Station to Kingsbury
B12 – Erith to Joydens Wood
B13 – Bexleyheath Shopping Centre to New Eltham Station
B15 – Bexleyheath Shopping Centre to Horn Park
E10 – Northolt to Ealing Broadway Station
H2 – Golders Green Station circular (via Hampstead Garden Suburb)
H3 – Golders Green Station to East Finchley, Hilltop
H18 – Harrow Bus Station circular (via Pinner & Wealdstone)
H19 – Harrow Bus Station circular (via Wealdstone & Pinner)
K5 – Ham to Morden Station
S1 – Banstead to Lavender Fields
S3 – Sutton Hospital to Malden Manor Station
X26 – West Croydon to Heathrow Airport
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