BUS drivers in north London appear set to launch an “all-out” indefinite strike from next month in a row over pay.
Around 2,000 drivers employed by Arriva could stage the walk-out from October 4 if they are not offered a pay increase in line with the RPI inflation rate of 12.3%, the union Unite warned on Wednesday.
It said drivers in the company’s north London division would walk-out indefinitely unless the dispute is resolved.
The planned strike affects Arriva drivers operating from eight depots in north and east London: Ash Grove, Barking, Clapton, Edmonton, Enfield, Palmers Green, Tottenham and Wood Green.
A Unite spokesperson said it would affect all Arriva routes operating from those depots. At least 40 routes would be affected, it is understood, bringing widespread travel disruption across the capital’s bus network.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members at Arriva have generated huge profits for the company for decades.
“Arriva can afford to offer a pay increase that meets the real rate of inflation, but it has put profits before people and declined to do so. Unite will leave no stone unturned in the support given to our members during this dispute.”
According to the Arriva website, it runs some 49 routes across London from the affected depots. Those slated for strike action are more than half the total routes run by the bus company.