Hundreds of bus drivers have been taking industrial action this summer over high vehicle temperatures during the heatwaves
Bus drivers across London have cancelled further strike action after their employer agreed to install air conditioning to buses by May next year.
Around 1,500 drivers represented by Unite the Union and employed by Arriva North London had claimed their employer failed to act on driver complaints about poor working conditions in hot weather.
It led to several days of strike action this summer, after the trade union claimed the lack air conditioning in vehicles put both drivers and the general public at risk as it can lead to crashes, with staff potentially suffering from heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration. During this year’s five heatwaves, temperatures in some driver cabs reached as high as 40 degrees.
But the bus drivers – working on 42 different services based out of bus garages in Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green – have now voted to accept a new deal following negotiations between Unite and Arriva.
The deal includes several improvements to driver conditions as well Arriva and Transport for London’s promise to fit air conditioning on vehicles next year.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will leave no stone unturned to fight for workers. Thank you to all our members at Arriva North who stood together to achieve this landmark win.
“Unite is determined that the conditions of bus drivers are improved in London and beyond. We expect bus operators to treat workers with dignity and respect and will be ensuring that this happens.”
Agreement has also been reached to deal with the period while the works take place, so that if air conditioning is not working on a diesel or hybrid bus, drivers at Arriva North London will only need to complete 35 minutes of driving before the bus is stopped and returned to the respective garage.
This means drivers will no longer be expected to carry on and “sweat it out”, according to Unite.
The 35-minute rule will also apply to cold weather working, where previously drivers needed to be out for at least an hour.
The agreement means that for electric vehicles the 35 minutes will not be required as systems should be effective within a few minutes. Any vehicle with a defect on the cooling/heating system must be repaired before returning to service, ending the current situation where defective buses are simply allocated to another driver.
However, Unite is not rescinding its strike mandate, which will be in place for eleven months and allow the trade union to “hold Arriva to account” should it renege on commitments, with a “robust ongoing audit of heating and aircon systems through the year supported with scheduled bi-weekly run out checks and repairs carried out in a timely fashion”.
Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab added: “This is an excellent win for our members, who stood together on picket lines to fight for and win an agreement that means that drivers are not simply expected to sweat it out.
“We have secured an agreement with concrete immediate measures, ongoing action to ensure repairs are carried out in a timely fashion and a target for fitting all buses with air conditioning. Unite members have once again shown the value of collective union action.”
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