Enter talks

Unite is warning that a 48 hour strike involving London bus workers at the bus operator Tower Transit will go ahead on Wednesday 19 October unless the firm re-enters meaningful talks.

Plans for next week’s stoppage come after talks broke down following Tower Transit’s refusal to revisit imposed roster changes which are leaving drivers out of pocket.

It will be the third stoppage in a dispute involving over 1,000 drivers, engineers and controllers at three depots across London.

Routes affected

Three previous 24 hour strikes have led to services operating out of the Atlas Road bus depot in Park Royal, the Westbourne Park bus garage and the Lea interchange bus depot being dramatically disrupted and nearly 30 bus routes affected.

All three depots are once again involved in next week’s stoppage, which comes amid continuing anger among workers, over the bus operator’s refusal to consult meaningfully over roster changes.

Commenting Unite regional officer Simon McCartney said: “Unite had hoped that we could have resolved this dispute with Tower Transit in talks through Acas. It appears that Tower Transit don’t share that desire though.

 

‘Playing games’

“Instead, the company seems more interested in playing games and throwing all the goodwill we have shown back in to our members’ faces.

“We urge Tower Transit to recognise the anger that has been generated over its imposition of roster changes by revisiting its stance and re-entering meaningful talks to avoid further industrial action and disruption for the traveling public.”

The routes and garages affected are: Atlas Road bus depot, Park Royal – Routes 28, 31, 266, 328, N28 and N31 jointly with Westbourne Park garage.

Westbourne Park Bus Garage – Routes 23, 70 and N97 as well as sharing an allocation on routes 28, 31 and 328 with Atlas Road.

Lea Interchange bus depot, Leyton – Routes 25, 30, 58, 69, 212, 236, 308, 339, 425, 444, 488, RV1, W14, W15, N550 and N551.