There is further strike action ongoing at Bow bus garage in East London as a dispute around scheduling and driver fatigue continues.

Over 300 drivers at the East London Bus & Coach Company (part of Stagecoach) are striking from today (27 May) to Friday (29 May) and then from 11 to 14 June.

It comes after the employer has failed to listen to their concerns about scheduling and rota issues, which workers say is leading to severe fatigue issues.

These include bus drivers completing multiple hour and a half long journeys without adequate breaks, having just 10 hours of rest times between shifts and Stagecoach refusing to schedule meal relief breaks at the depot, leaving drivers without a suitable area to recover as well as expecting them to refuel vehicles using remote electric charge points, which increases work demands.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are raising legitimate concerns with Stagecoach about fatigue, which is not only putting them at risk but the general public too – yet they are being ignored.

“It is high time Stagecoach treats this problem with the seriousness it deserves, rather than pushing forward with these dangerous rotas. Our members at Stagecoach have our full support.”

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

Industrial action will impact services that operate from Bow bus garage and include those that go to central London and Westfield Stratford City shopping centre. Routes affected will be the 8, N8, 25, N25, 45, 205, N205 and 425.

Previous strike action in March, April and earlier this month caused delays and cancellation to services. This is despite Stagecoach engaging in strike breaking activity by bringing in drivers from elsewhere in the UK to cover workers taking industrial action.

Unite regional officer John Murphy said: "Instead of listening to our members at Bow bus garage, Stagecoach has instead chosen to attempt to break the strike. Despite this, drivers remain united on the picket line and determined to win the fight for better conditions.

"This escalating strike action will no doubt cause further disruption to bus services – but this is the fault of Stagecoach. There is time to avoid further industrial action but that relies on it coming back to negotiations and working with Unite to resolve, not worsen, driver fatigue.”

Fatigue is a major issue for bus drivers across London more widely. A recent survey by Unite for its Fight Fatigue Now campaign found over a third of drivers have experienced sleepiness while driving two or three times a week and 48 per cent have had a 'close call' due to fatigue in the past 12 months.

Unite is calling on Transport for London, Mayor Sadiq Khan and bus companies in the capital to tackle fatigue, including by establishing consistency across scheduling and rosters, bringing in a minimum of 12 hour breaks between duties and improving drivers' break, rest and welfare facilities. 

ENDS

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

Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org