Arriva bus, London, on one of the routes affected by strikes. Photo Workers.
Over 1,500 Arriva North London bus drivers took strike action during August over hot weather working.
Drivers at the garages at Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green walked out on 14 and 18 August in protest at their working conditions, and also against the company’s bullying of Unite members and representatives.
London was experiencing its fifth heatwave of the summer with ambient temperatures of over 35 degrees: inside the drivers’ cabs it would have been closer to 40 degrees.
As the drivers point out, their action is essential to ensure both their own health and the safety of their passengers. Driving an Arriva bus is like working in a moving greenhouse. One driver said, “The buses don’t have air conditioning. They think by putting a little fan in the cab helps – it doesn’t.” Working in those conditions can cause fatigue and dehydration, heatstroke and dizziness. A driver fainting at the wheel is dangerous for passengers, other road users and people in the street.
This action is a last resort. For several years, the drivers’ union Unite has highlighted that most buses operated by Arriva North London have air cooling systems rather than the more effective air conditioning.
On 18 August, Unite announced the suspension of strikes to allow members to be balloted on new proposals on conditions from Arriva. The offer was narrowly rejected, and strikes were set to restart as Workers went to press.