London bus strike: All 42 affected routes as major walkouts to cause travel chaos
More than 1,500 bus drivers from eight garages in London are going on strike in a dispute over working conditions.
Members of Unite employed by Arriva North London are set to walk out on 26 dates from August to October - starting today (Friday, August 14) - with services across north London and Essex affected.
The strikes follow a row over conditions in hot weather this summer.
The union has called on Arriva to improve conditions to protect drivers during extreme heat, and has accused the operator of failing to act on complaints about conditions.
So why exactly are the drivers striking, what areas will be affected and what dates will the action take place?
Why are the drivers striking?
The dispute centres on conditions inside buses, with Unite announcing the strike in a bid to ensure all are fitted with effective air conditioning.
Many buses have reached unbearable temperatures for passengers and drivers during the recent heatwaves, with most fitted with air cooling rather than more effective air conditioning systems.
These systems only blow in outside air, leaving drivers exposed to temperatures of 40C, with some comparing their cabs to "greenhouses".
Some drivers have said they feared for their own safety, and have experienced heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration this summer, according to Unite.
While drivers have been told they can take breaks when needed, many feel under pressure to keep services running for the sake of passengers.
Many London bus drivers staged a rally outside Transport for London's Palestra offices, in Southwark on Thursday, August 6, regarding the conditions.
One driver named Jason told the BBC that "life is not good".
He said: "There's the toilet dignity issue which means that on certain routes there are no toilets or the toilets are of extremely poor quality.
"Driving in the summer is stifling. It's horrible. We have thermometers in the cab and it's got to over 40 degrees. It's impossible driving in that temperature."
Toni, another bus driver, added: "I think if passengers knew the reality of the bus driver's life, they'd be actually very frightened. I regularly feel so fatigued that I would feel slightly nauseous."
Which routes are affected?
There are 42 routes facing little or no service during the strike days.
They are: 19, 29, 34, 41, 66, 67, 76, 102, 121, 141, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 217, 221, 243, 248, 254, 259, 279, 307, 313, 329, 341, 349, 370, 375, 377, 616, 675, SL1, SL2, W3, W4. W6, N19, N29, N41 and N279.
Services may be delayed or cancelled during strike days and some of the planned dates are taking place at the same time as closures on the Piccadilly Line in August and September.
All the strike dates
The following strike dates have been confirmed by Unite:
Friday, August 14 - Saturday, August 15
Tuesday, August 18 - Friday, August 21
Tuesday, August 25 - Friday, August 28
Friday, September 4 - Saturday, September 5
Monday, September 7 - Tuesday, September 8
Friday, September 18 - Saturday, September 19
Monday, September 21 - Tuesday, September 22
Friday, October 2 - Saturday, October 3
Monday, October 5 - Tuesday, October 6
Friday, October 16 - Saturday, October 17
Monday, October 19 - Tuesday, October 20
What have both sides said?
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The heatwave this week has caused even more problems for our members at Arriva North London, who have once again faced doing a demanding job in unbearable conditions.
“No worker should be made ill by their job.
“This problem is raised year after year and as the summers get hotter it can no longer be swept under the carpet.
“Arriva can afford to act on this serious issue, which puts both drivers and the general public at risk, and it must make this a priority.”
Arriva, meanwhile, has said it is investing in both short and long-term measures to help drivers, including cab upgrades and air conditioning.
Wasim Mohammed, Arriva London’s managing director said: “We take the welfare of our drivers seriously, and understand the impact of this extreme weather on them.
“We are working closely with Transport for London to support both our colleagues and customers during these hot spells. We've introduced short-term measures to protect drivers, and we're investing in longer-term fixes, including cab air conditioning upgrades and our ongoing investment in new fleet.
“We remain ready to sit down with Unite at any time to discuss these important issues and find a resolution that avoids both strike action and the disruption it would cause to customers."
A spokesperson for TfL said the strike action is expected to hit local bus routes in north and some central London areas, with some routes busier than usual.
They added: “We encourage both parties to find a solution to this dispute and we’re sorry for any disruption to people’s journeys.”