BUSfeed: Five reasons why London bus drivers have had enough

1. People are mean

Did you know that four bus drivers are assaulted every 24 hours? They even have to carry a ‘Spit Kit’ to collect the DNA of passengers who spit on them *shudders*.

2. Bosses are meaner

Since the Conservative’s sold bus routes off to private companies, working as a bus driver is complicated. There are now 18 different bus companies operating with 80 different rates of pay. Some bus drivers are being paid as much as £2 more an hour than a colleague driving the same route.

3. SIXTY hour weeks

Because of this unfair pay, many bus drivers have no choice but to work up to 60 hours a week to make ends meet.

4. Tube drivers have it so much better

Life is better underground. Tube drivers have one employer and one rate of pay, making everything fairer and simpler. They also earn up to ÂŁ30,000 more than London bus drivers and have no need for a spit kit.

5. Patience is wearing thin

The pay disparity and unfair treatment is starting to really bring our bus drivers down, causing tension and low morale. Strike action is always a last resort but patience is thin and the bus drivers have had enough.

London’s bus drivers keep our City running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and Unite continue to campaign to get them a fair single rate of pay.

The ballot for strike action will close on Thursday 18 December.