More than 1,500 London bus drivers are set to strike over concerns about working conditions as the capital continues to experience scorching temperatures. Members of the Unite union working for Arriva North London are due to take industrial action on Friday and on several other days, with the union accusing the company of failing to take the problem of excessive heat seriously.
Dispute over cooling systems
The dispute centres on temperatures inside buses, with Unite claiming most Arriva North London vehicles are fitted with air cooling systems rather than full air conditioning. According to the union, the cooling systems can reduce temperatures by only around two or three degrees Celsius.
Drivers have warned that this can leave them working in extremely hot conditions while transporting passengers around the capital. Unite said the issue becomes particularly serious during heatwaves, when temperatures can rise rapidly inside vehicles and make already demanding working conditions more difficult.
Union leader's response
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the latest heatwave had made the situation worse for workers. She 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,” she added.
Graham said the union had repeatedly raised concerns about temperatures on buses and argued that the issue could no longer be ignored as summers become hotter. “This problem is raised year after year and as the summers get hotter it can no longer be swept under the carpet,” she said. She also claimed Arriva had the financial means to improve conditions. “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,” Graham said.
Impact on passengers
The planned walkout threatens disruption for passengers across parts of north London, with the industrial action coming as the capital faces another spell of very hot weather. Unite's action is focused on working conditions rather than pay, with the union arguing that drivers should not be expected to work for prolonged periods in excessive heat.
The union says the current cooling systems are inadequate during extreme weather because they only lower temperatures by a small amount rather than providing the level of cooling offered by air conditioning. The dispute also raises concerns about the impact of high temperatures on passengers, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to heat.
