There is set to be major disruption to East London bus services 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). They are based at the Bow Bus Garage.

Unite members involved in the dispute have raised concerns with the employer about problems with scheduling.

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. Bus drivers are also only having 10 hours of rest time between shifts, less than the European Time Directive mandate of at least 11 hours.

Stagecoach is also requiring that bus drivers refuel their vehicles using remote electric charge points, which increases work demands and worsen the problem of fatigue. Meanwhile, it is also refusing to schedule meal relief breaks at the depot, leaving drivers without a suitable area to recover.

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."

Bus driver fatigue is a very serious, leading to a higher risk of accidents such as bus crashes. Contributing factors include long shifts, insufficient breaks and inadequate running times that lead to workers having to do overtime to complete journeys.

The strike ballot closes on 11 February.

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."

Meanwhile, bus services in North East London will also be impacted by strikes in February. Over 350 bus drivers at the Lea Interchange Bus Company (also part of Stagecoach) in Leyton will walk out on 6, 7, 20 and 21 February in a dispute around union busting and bullying of Unite reps.

ENDS

 Notes to editors Services that will be affected by strike action include the 8, which runs from Bow Church to Tottenham Court Road, the 25 from Ilford to Holborn Circus and the 205 from Bow Church to the Selfridges department store near Mayfair and the 45 which runs from Clapton to Ilford. It will also affect night bus services – the N8 which is Oxford Circus to Hainault, N25 Oxford Circus to Ilford, N205 Paddington Station to Leyton Station.

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite press officer Natasha Wynarczyk on 07970081524

 Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org