London bus strikes: Full list of walkout dates as drivers strike over heat

More than 1,500 Arriva North London bus drivers will strike on multiple dates over hot working conditions, disrupting 42 routes.

Brit Brief 13/08/2026 10:23

London bus strikes: Full list of walkout dates as drivers strike over heat — London bus strikes: Full list of walkout dates

Bus drivers in London are set to go on strike over working conditions in hot weather as the capital suffers through another heatwave. The Unite union said more than 1,500 Arriva North London bus drivers will take industrial action on Friday and multiple other days, over concerns the company is not taking the issue seriously.

Why are drivers striking?

Most buses operated by Arriva North London have air cooling systems, which only manage to reduce temperatures by around two or three degrees Celsius rather than more effective air conditioning, the union said. This means buses are still extremely hot for drivers and passengers, leading to health problems in the sweltering conditions.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The heatwave this week has caused even more problems for our members at Arriva North London, who have once again faced doing a demanding job in unbearable conditions. No worker should be made ill by their job. This problem is raised year after year and as the summers get hotter it can no longer be swept under the carpet. Arriva can afford to act on this serious issue, which puts both drivers and the general public at risk, and it must make this a priority.”

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