More than 1,500 London bus drivers employed by Arriva North London are scheduled to strike on 26 dates across August, September, and October. The first period of industrial action will begin this week, running from 4am on Friday, 14 August, until 4.30am on Saturday, 15 August.
The Unite union, representing the drivers, stated that the action is due to poor working conditions in hot weather. The union claims drivers have experienced health problems, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration, and that Arriva North London has not addressed complaints about extreme temperatures on buses, which mostly use air cooling systems rather than air conditioning.
Drivers from eight bus garages are involved: Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, and Wood Green. Transport for London (TfL) anticipates that local bus routes in north and some central London areas will be affected, though the majority of the bus network is expected to operate as planned.
The strike action will impact 45 specific bus services, including routes 19, 29, 34, 41, 66, 67, 76, 102, 121, 141, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 217, 221, 243, 248, 254, 259, 279, 307, 313, 329, 341, 349, 370, 375, 377, 616, 675, SL1, SL2, W3, W4. W6, N19, N29, N41, N279. Planned strikes in August and September will also coincide with closures on the Piccadilly line.