Boiling over

With another heatwave forecast for next week Arriva bus drivers across North London are balloting for strike action over ongoing frustration at the company’s failure to address dangerously hot working conditions.

Over 1,900 drivers across 10 garages are balloting for the strike action across the Arriva North London network, after their employer has failed to act on complaints about working conditions on buses during recent hot weather – though the issue goes back years.

Most Arriva North London buses have air cooling systems rather than air conditioning. These take in air from outside and circulate it around and can reduce the ambient temperature by a maximum of 10 degrees Celsius – however bus drivers have said in the latest heatwave temperatures have only reduced by around two or three degrees.

This has left drivers working in conditions they have deemed unbearable, with temperatures regularly in the high 30’s, as well as suffering from fatigue that has worsened in the recent heatwave.

The heatwave that drivers were expected to work through had resulted in record breaking temperatures across the country, with London and a number of regions being covered by a very rare “Red Extreme Heat Warning”.

At the time Met Office Chief Forecaster Matthew Lehnert said: “Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting significant impacts from this heatwave, with health issues likely, even beyond those who are more vulnerable to the heat.”

Despite the employer, by law, having a ‘duty of care’ to make sure working temperatures are reasonable for their staff, and an ongoing campaign from Unite and other organisations to implement a legal maximum working temperature, drivers at Arriva North London are being exposed to dangerous heat.

This issue has been raised to Arriva North London in previous years, but action has not been taken. Drivers are calling for improvements to buses, including installing air conditioning.

Unite regional officer Steven Stockwell said: “Arriva has failed to provide our members with a safe and comfortable working environment during the hot weather. This is putting bus drivers and passengers at risk and our members believe they have no choice but to ballot for industrial action.

“We recognise that those who use these bus services may be frustrated to hear this news, but this is a serious safety issue. It is on Arriva to create a safer environment, not just for our members but the general public and it must do this immediately or face disruption.” 

Last week (26 June) Unite strongly welcomed a statement by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, concerning the capital’s bus drivers, who have been sweltering in their cabs during recent heatwaves.

Speaking to LBC Mayor Khan said: “I don’t want any bus driver to work in conditions that are unacceptable in London in 2026.

“Let me speak directly to bus drivers – if your cabin is too hot, I’ve given TFL permission, and told the bus operators, you must not be driving that bus. 

“Please think about your personal safety, please think about your passengers – you will not be penalised.”

The Mayor made his commitment to drivers following Unite’s warnings about unacceptable temperatures in bus cabs. Unite has highlighted how many London buses don’t have functioning air conditioning or have inefficient air cooling systems, resulting in cab temperatures frequently exceeding 40 degrees. 

Following the Major’s comments, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is totally unacceptable for any bus driver to be put at risk due to high temperatures. Sadiq Khan has said the right thing here. It is now essential that bus operators listen to him and ensure that their workers and passengers are safe during this sweltering weather.”

Unite is now calling for the formation of a taskforce between itself, Transport for London (TfL) and the bus operators to find a permanent solution, to boiling temperatures in the summer and freezing conditions in the winter, 

This is particularly important given the increasing impact of climate change and the growing number of extreme weather events.

Unite has provided 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. 

By Keith Hatch