East London bus drivers to vote on strike action

Hundreds of east London bus drivers are set to vote on whether to take strike action over issues including inadequate breaks.

More than 300 Unite members at the East London Bus & Coach Company, part of Stagecoach, will take part in the ballot in the coming days.

The drivers, who are based at Bow Bus Garage, say they are facing problems with the management of breaks and scheduling.

Stagecoach has been approached for comment.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Bus driver fatigue is a major issue for our members, not just in terms of their own safety but passenger safety too."

Unite says many bus journeys can take up to an hour and a half, with drivers completing these several times during a shift without sufficient rest.

It adds that drivers allegedly receive only 10 hours' rest between shifts which is below the European Working Time Directive requirement of at least 11 hours.

Graham added: "Unite will not stand for workers enduring poor conditions that lead to fatigue and place them and their passengers in danger.

"Our members will have our full support throughout this dispute."

The union also claims the company asks drivers to use remote electric charging points, adding to their workload, and refuses to schedule meal breaks at the depot, which leaves drivers without a proper place to rest.

Bus services in north‑east London are also set to be disrupted next month.

More than 350 drivers at the Lea Interchange Bus Company in Leyton, which is part of Stagecoach, plan to strike on 6, 7, 20 and 21 February amid a dispute over alleged union‑busting and the bullying of Unite representatives.

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