London bus drivers to re-ballot on pay and conditions strikes

By Owen Sheppard, Local Democracy Reporter

Hundreds of London bus drivers will re-ballot on whether to continue going on strike after a new deal on pay and conditions was offered by French company RATP.

It comes after six separate days of strikes held through late February and March, over fears that drivers on routes in south west and north west London could lose more than £2,000 a year.

Drivers represented by the Unite trade union say this cut would result from changes RATP has proposed, such as asking drivers to “log in” when they sit behind the wheel of a bus, and log out at the end of their shift.

This would mean drivers wouldn’t be paid during their breaks or whilst waiting for their bus to become available before switching with another driver.

The changes were due to affect drivers employed by three bus operators owned by RATP – London United, London Sovereign and Quality Line – who employ a total of nearly 3,000 drivers.

Workers from the three operators were due to strike on Wednesday March 17, but Transport for London announced on March 16 that Quality Line and London Sovereign drivers would no longer strike that day.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has learnt that this was because RATP has offered a new set of pay and terms, which will now be considered by Unite members.

It is understood that London Sovereign has been offered an improved pay rise and a lump sum, whereas Quality Line drivers have been offered only a lump sum. The exact amounts have not been disclosed.

Drivers from London Sovereign and Quality Line will soon reballot on the new offer before deciding whether to accept or to strike again on Wednesday March 24 and 31.

London United drivers have been offered no improvement and are still due to strike on March 17.

Quality Line bus routes that will no longer be affected by strikes on March 17 include: 293, 404, 413, 463, 467, 470, 633 and S1.

London Sovereign routes that will no longer be affected by strikes on March 17 include: 79, 142, 183, 251, 258, 288, 303, 326, 395, 398, 642, N5, H9, H10, H11, H12, H14, H17, H18 and H19.

The London United routes that will be affected by strikes on March 17 include: 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, N266, C1, H22, H32, H37, H98, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 and S3.

Before the changes were announced, Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s director of public transport service planning, said: ”We will do everything possible to reduce the disruption if this strike action goes ahead, but customers who need to travel should again check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys. We urge RATP and Unite the union to resolve the issue as soon as possible.”