Duties always come first

On Thursday (February 5), London’s 27,000 bus drivers will be taking the second day of strike action.

This is not a decision they have taken lightly. They are a dedicated workforce and committed to their roles.

Buses run 24 hours a day seven days a week. It is not something you do unless you really are dedicated.

“Once you’re a bus driver you give up your social life. Your duties always come first. We make a lot of sacrifices and have huge responsibilities. The hours are long and the shifts are unsociable hours. You become a stranger in your own home,” said Kevin Stagg, a bus driver in Croydon.

But they are not being treated fairly by their employers – London’s 18 different bus companies.

“All our members want is one single rate of pay and one set of terms and conditions across all of London’s bus companies,” said Wayne King, Unite regional officer.

In contrast to tube drivers, London’s bus drivers are covered by 80 different pay rates leading to pay gaps of over £3 an hour opening up between people doing the same job.

“As a passenger you would not expect to be charged a different fare from the person sitting next to you. It would make you ask why. Yet many drivers on the same bus route working for the same bus company are being paid different salaries,” added Wayne.

The bus companies have consistently refused requests to try and fix these inequalities.

“All we have left to fight with is our labour. We have been forced to take that away in the hope that it will drive home the message to the bus companies that we want a fair deal on our pay and conditions,” added Jo Harris a bus driver in Putney.

Unite has urged London’s 18 bus operators to enter into collective talks to avoid the disruption of further strikes but calls have fallen on deaf ears.

Last week Unite announced a further three 24 hour London-wide strikes.

The latest stoppages run from 00.01 to 23.59 on Thursday 5, Friday 13 and Monday 16 February.

One fare for passengers – why not one rate of pay for bus drivers!