Workers at the East London Bus & Coach Company in Bow say a “lack of breaks and intolerable scheduling” is leading to exhaustion, reports Marco Marcelline

Buses in Chingford Bus Station, which is unaffected by the strike

Major disruption to bus services across East London is expected as over 300 drivers are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over scheduling and breaks.

The workers, members of Unite, work for the East London Bus & Coach Company (part of Stagecoach), and are based at the Bow Bus Garage, with the strike ballot closing on Wednesday, 11th February.

Unite members involved in the dispute have raised concerns with the employer about problems with scheduling. Unite says many of the bus journeys can take as long as an hour and a half, with drivers completing these “several times during their shifts without adequate breaks, leading to fatigue”.

Unite further alleges that its bus drivers were only having ten hours of rest time between shifts, which is less than the European Time Directive mandate of at least eleven hours.

They say that Stagecoach is also requiring that bus drivers refuel their vehicles using remote electric charge points, which “increases work demands and worsens fatigue”. The union also claims that Stagecoach is “refusing to schedule meal relief breaks at the depot, leaving drivers without a suitable area to recover”.

Services that will be affected by strike action include the N205 which runs from Paddington to Leyton Station, as well as the 425 which runs from Clapton to Ilford.

Other affected services include the 8, which runs from Bow Church to Tottenham Court Road, the 25/N25 from Ilford to Holborn Circus/Oxford Circus and the 205 from Bow Church to the Selfridges department store near Mayfair.

Stagecoach was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication.

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 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.”

Unite regional officer John Murphy said: “We know passengers will be concerned to hear of any travel disruption, but our members at Stagecoach have been left with no choice but to ballot for strike action to make their concerns heard.

“Industrial action can be easily avoided but that relies on the employer listening to our members and coming to the table with a solution to this problem.”

Bus services around Waltham Forest will also be impacted by 350 bus drivers at the Lea Interchange Bus Company (also part of Stagecoach) in Leyton walking out on 6th, 7th, 20th and 21st February in a dispute around “union busting and bullying” of Unite reps.

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