Bus strike plans over sexual harassment claims

Bus workers look set to strike after a company referred to sexual harassment and assault allegations in the workplace as "banter and horseplay", a union said.

Arriva bus engineers in Luton have voted for action over the claims, as well as the suspension of a union shop steward who tried to hold "the company to account", Unite said.

The union said the person accused of harassment, who was in a managerial role, was no longer employed by the company, and Arriva confirmed that, saying the issue was "now a police matter".

The BBC has contacted Bedfordshire Police for comment.

Unite said the union shop steward had been "suspended on supposedly unrelated matters after he refused to allow the company to ignore the issue" and they "believe he was suspended in retaliation for holding the company to account".

It said Arriva previously dismissed the sexual harassment allegations as "banter" and "horseplay" and "completely failed to offer adequate support to those impacted".

Unite claimed multiple workers, including young apprentices, reported being subjected to unwanted touching, squeezing and striking, including kicking and striking in sensitive areas.

The suspension of the shop steward occurred shortly after the individual at the centre of the allegations left the company, it said.

Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said: "Unite will not tolerate employers trying to brush such incredibly serious issues under the carpet or attacks on our reps.

"This dispute will continue to escalate until Arriva can regain its workers' trust and bring our shop steward back to work."

In a statement, Arriva said: "We take matters of this nature extremely seriously, and employees are encouraged to raise any concerns and avenues are provided for this to happen.

"To suggest that this is an attack on a trade union representative is without foundation.

"The representative is currently not in the business due to unrelated matters, and we strongly refute any suggestion that it is in response to his involvement in raising what is now a police matter."

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