There will be further strike action by Transport for London bus workers this week due to an ongoing dispute about rota changes.

Over 150 workers, who are bus controllers and network traffic controllers, will walk out on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22 May), coinciding with strike action taken by London Underground drivers who are members of the RMT.

Bus controllers and network traffic controllers do safety critical roles for TfL, which include dealing with incidents and accidents, managing bus stations and putting in place bus stop closures and diversions due to traffic or emergencies such as accidents.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is an absolute disgrace that while our members are taking industrial action to fight for their conditions with passenger safety at the forefront of their concerns, TfL and the bus companies failed to maintain safety standards.

“TfL and the bus firms have serious questions to answer about why proper risk assessments were not undertaken. They must also change tack and listen to the concerns of our members, who we will continue to fully support during this dispute.”

Figures seen by Unite showed during last month’s strikes, TfL allowed private bus companies to do their own diversions in order to cover the network traffic controllers taking action.

There were over 85 unofficial bus diversions made by private operators during the 23 to 25 April strike action, without any TfL risk assessments being undertaken. This potentially put bus drivers as well as thousands of passengers at risk, as these formal assessments are done to ensure any diversions are safe.

They are essential for achieving London mayor Sadiq Khan’s Vision Zero strategy – the goal that by 2041 all deaths and serious injuries will be eliminated from London's transport network.

As well as allowing private operators to make diversions, TfL brought in untrained band four and five employees to cover the bus station controllers, some of whom are managers earning over £100,000.

The dispute comes as TfL has attempted to force through rota changes that would leave bus workers at a disadvantage, including added weekend working and making them responsible for more bus stations, some of which are located in completely different areas of London.

Unite believes this will increase worker fatigue and stress and will also put them at risk of being disciplined if they can't reach every site they look after on time.

As the workers are responsible for bus routes all over London, strikes will cause widespread disruption across the capital - especially with tube drivers also taking action.

Unite regional officer Nadine Edwards said: "These bus workers do a vital job, with a small number of them being responsible for the safety of millions of Londoners and the smooth running of journeys every day.

"It is time TfL treated these workers with the importance they deserve and take their concerns about rota changes seriously. Otherwise, they will have no choice but to go ahead with industrial action.”

ENDS

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

Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org ENDS