The Mayor of London has promised to update the regulations that protect the capital's bus drivers, admitting the current rules are not fit for purpose in extreme heat.
Sir Sadiq Khan said the conditions faced by frontline workers in soaring temperatures must be recognised, pointing to the absence of a maximum working temperature for bus drivers.
Pay docked over lack of cooling
Recent reports have highlighted bus drivers struggling in sweltering cabins during the latest heatwaves. One driver claimed he had his pay docked for refusing to operate a vehicle without proper air cooling. The Mayor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “One of the most important issues is how our frontline workers are treated during things like an extreme heatwave.
“It is really important that we thank frontline workers like our bus drivers, but also recognise the challenges that they are facing in terms of being in a greenhouse, driving dozens of passengers, potentially suffering from fatigue. And so I’ve instructed TfL to make sure that work really closely with bus operators, they work incredibly closely with Unite the union, work really closely with bus drivers to make sure, not only are our buses fit for purpose, but the regulations and legislation is fit for purpose.”
Call for a Bus Driver Bill of Rights
The London Assembly unanimously passed a motion last month calling for a Bus Driver Bill of Rights to improve working conditions. City Hall has yet to respond to the motion.
Earlier today, the Mayor declined to commit to supporting specific legislation for bus drivers, instead suggesting that a Bill of Rights should apply to all frontline staff across the capital and beyond.
“There should be a Bill of Rights generally for workers,” he said. “Bus drivers are one of the many categories of frontline workers who are struggling with the current extreme heatwave. And so it’s really important to look at all bus drivers, all workers who are suffering because of the extreme heatwave.”
Petition puts pressure on City Hall
In the past, TfL officials and the Mayor have said such demands are already covered by existing legislation.
However, almost 30,000 people have signed a petition calling on City Hall to change its stance and ensure guarantees on temperature, fatigue, toilet access and other basic rights are written into TfL contracts with bus operators.
