Disruption as Christmas bus strikes take effect

Bus users in west London are set to face days of disruption as more than 350 drivers and engineers are taking strike action.

Staff at London Transit will walk out on 12, 15, 22, 23 and 24 December after rejecting the latest pay offer from the company's parent firm, First Bus London. Little to no service is expected on the affected routes.

Members of the Unite trade union are unhappy with the proposed deal, which it claims introduces a new, lower-paid starter grade for drivers.

First Bus London said it was disappointed that its revised pay offer was rejected however it had further talks planned with the union.

Routes operated from Westbourne Park, including the 13, 23, 31, N31, 218, 295 and 452, will be affected.

All other bus services, as well as Tube and rail, will run as planned but may be busier than usual.

Transport for London (TfL) has advised passengers to plan ahead.

The same Unite union members previously took part in industrial action on 14, 17 and 18 November.

In a statement, its regional officer Callum Rochford said: "Our members do an incredibly difficult job – whether it's driving buses in rush hour in London or keeping those buses operational. Yet their employer is trying to short-change them with new grades.

"Workers won't stand for this. London Transit need to return to the negotiating table, do what's right and end this dispute now."

Responding, First Bus London said: "We have further talks tabled with Unite and we hope through meaningful discussions we can reach a resolution and end the ongoing disruption, which causes inconvenience for passengers and loss of earnings for our employees."

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