London 2012: Date set for bus worker strike over Olympic payment dispute

Sarah Shaffi, Olympics editor (news) Friday, June 15, 2012
5:36 PM

Bus workers in London will go on strike next week in a dispute over bonus payments for working during the Olympics.

Unite the Union announced this afternoon that action will take place next Friday, June 22 across the capital.

The dispute centres on Unite’s claim for a £500 bonus for more than 20,000 workers to recognise the “massive increase” in workload during the London 2012 Games.

Bus workers from every London bus operator will walk out for the first time since 1982. Workers will strike for one shift, with action beginning on Friday at around 3am and finishing at the end of the night shift on Saturday, June 23.

Unite said further strikes would be called up to and during the Games if bus operators did not act.

The union’s general secretary for London, Peter Kavanagh, said: “London buses will come to a standstill for the first time in a generation across London on June 22.

“The blame lies squarely with the bus operators and Transport for London (TfL). The bus companies haven’t met with Unite once to discuss bus workers’ extra contribution to the Olympic Games and TfL has refused to intervene.

“This dispute could be resolved at a stroke but if the bus companies and TfL continue to do nothing Unite will call further strikes up to and during the Olympic Games.”

Unite says bus workers are the only London transport workers not receiving a bonus for working during the Games.

Last Friday more than 20,000 members of Unite working for 20 London bus operators, including Go Ahead, Stagecoach, London United, Arriva, Metroline, First and Abellio, backed strike action by an average of 94 per cent.