There will be further disruption to bus services in North East London as 350 bus drivers will continue to strike in a dispute over bullying and union busting.

Workers at the Lea Interchange Bus Company (part of Stagecoach) have agreed to take further industrial action due to the absence of credible proposals to solve problems at the depot, which have included Unite representatives being bullied by management.

Unite reps have been the target of aggressive behaviour, including being unfairly dismissed then reinstated and suspended on trumped-up charges. Unite believes the reps are being targeted for undertaking union activities, which goes against UK employment law.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "These strikes could be avoided, but it relies on management changing tack. Unite will never stand by and allow reps to be bullied and workers at the Lea Interchange Bus Company have our full support throughout this dispute."

The drivers operate several routes across North East London from the Lea Interchange Bus Garage in Leyton, East London. These include the 97 which serves the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre and the 276 which goes to Newham Hospital.

Drivers will strike on 6 and 7 February and 20 and 21 February, impacting weekend travel including shopping trips to Westfield as well as half term journeys.

Previous industrial action on 12 and 13 December and 9 and 10 January saw cancellations of most services operating out of the Lea Interchange garage, with no buses leaving it at all during the December strikes.

Unite regional officer John Murphy said: "We appreciate it is frustrating for passengers to hear of more strikes, but this dispute is completely the fault of the employer who has failed to come forward with a plan to resolve this problem.

"Previous strikes showed a lot of unity between drivers and they will continue to show solidarity towards their colleagues who have been unfairly targeted. Instead of continuing to bully Unite members, management must come back with a clear plan to resolve the issue in order to stop further disruption to bus services."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Routes affected are 58, 86, 97, 135, 236, 276, 308, 339, 488, D8, W13, W14 and 678

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

Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org