[REVISION HISTORY]

London bus driver rights campaign and strike

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-25 06:46 UTC → 2026-08-25 09:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In early July 2026, London City Hall announced the adoption of a Bus Driver Bill of Rights following an extreme heatwave where temperatures reached 43 °C. By late July, the MyLondon “Back Our Bus Drivers” campaign intensified demands for Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) to guarantee reliable cabin cooling, clean toilet access, and protected reporting of safety concerns. While Mayor Khan suggested drivers could refuse to work in overheated vehicles, some operators reported being compelled to continue service; one former driver described conditions as “hotter than the Sahara” before resigning. TfL’s bus director, Lorna Murphy, dismissed the proposed Bill of Rights as unnecessary, arguing existing contracts cover safety. However, a Unite union survey highlighted severe health risks, with 48% of drivers reporting health issues and 36% experiencing sleepiness while driving two to three times per week due to long shifts and limited breaks. In August, industrial action escalated as more than 1,500 Arriva North London drivers, represented by Unite, scheduled strikes across August, September, and October. The dispute centers on inadequate air conditioning and risks of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration. The strikes affect eight garages—including Barking, Edmonton, and Tottenham—impacting numerous routes across North and central London. Sanitation concerns have further intensified the dispute, with campaigner Muhsin Manir reporting that a lack of accessible facilities forces some drivers to use bottles to urinate on board. Manir described the lack of facilities as a “London-wide shame.” On August 18, the planned strikes were suspended to allow Unite members to vote on a new offer from Arriva. However, after members rejected the deal, more than 1,500 drivers resumed industrial action on Tuesday, August 25. The strikes, which affect approximately 40 43 bus routes, are scheduled to continue intermittently through October.

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