Unbearable conditions

With another heatwave forecast for next week passengers across North London and Essex are facing huge disruption to bus services from later this month, as Unite drivers prepare to walk out in an ongoing dispute about unbearable working conditions.

Over 1,500 drivers at eight garages at Arriva North London are taking several days of action, after the employer failed to act on driver complaints about poor working conditions in hot weather.

Most buses operated by Arriva North London have air cooling systems rather than more effective air conditioning. The air cooling system has only managed to reduce temperatures by around two or three degrees during the recent series of heatwaves and driver cabs can reach 40 degrees and higher.

Working in hot weather is dangerous for bus drivers. It can exacerbate the problem of fatigue, which puts drivers and the general public at risk as it can lead to crashes.

Some drivers have experienced health problems from driving in hot weather this summer, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration.

The announcement follows last week’s “Fight Fatigue Now!” bus tour where Unite members travelled around the capital to highlight the unions concerns over 

Arriva’s latest financial figures released in mid 2025 showed it reported a pre-tax profit of €156 million and an operating profit of €127 million.

The dispute also centres around allegations of union busting by Arriva North

London management, including the bullying of Unite representatives and members. Drivers involved in the dispute are based at the following bus garages: Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green.

Strikes will take place on 14 to 15 August, 18 to 21 August, 25 to 28 August, 4 to 5 September, 7 to 8 September, 18 to 19 September, 21 to 22 September, 2 to 3 October, 5 to 6 October, 16 to 17 October and 19 to 20 October.

Industrial action will lead to significant delays and cancellations of bus services in the capital and some of the planned strike dates are taking place at the same time as closures on the Piccadilly Line in August and September.

Unite regional officer Steven Stockwell said: “We know those who rely on these bus services will be dismayed to hear of industrial action, but it is entirely the fault of Arriva who has completely failed to listen to our members.

“Instead of engaging in bullying behaviour, Arriva could prevent this disruption by entering meaningful discussions with Unite on how to improve driver working conditions in hot weather one and for all. It must take this seriously and enter talks with Unite.”

The worsening climate crisis is having a huge impact on workers in many areas, and Unite has been calling for a maximum working temperature as well as doing extensive work with drivers in hot weather. 

This has included providing drivers with an official letter that they can show their employer when conditions become too hot in drivers’ cabs, informing the company that the driver is stopping work for safety reasons. Drivers have a legal right to do this under section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has also backed Unite’s letter, saying he has told bus companies and Transport for London that drivers have a right to stop work during the heatwave.

By Keith Hatch

Photo by Mark Thomas