London bus drivers resume strike as air-con retrofit timeline disputes deepen

London bus drivers have resumed a four-day strike over working conditions during heatwaves, rejecting a recent agreement with operator Arriva North London. Approximately 1,500 members of the Unite union, operating across north London and Essex, have returned to industrial action from Tuesday to Friday. The dispute centres on the timeline for retrofitting air-conditioning on 730 buses, with workers fearing the upgrades will not be completed in time to protect them from extreme heat in the coming summer.

The industrial action follows earlier stoppages on 14 and 18 August, which affected more than 40 bus routes. Although Unite and Arriva North London reached an agreement during talks last week, drivers at three of the eight affected garages voted against the offer, deeming it insufficient to address the problem of working in hot weather. The specific garages involved in the initial action were Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, and Wood Green.

Drivers have reported excessive in-cab heat for years, noting that faulty cooling systems have only reduced temperatures by 2C to 3C. This year has seen a record run of five heatwaves, with in-cab temperatures often exceeding 40C. Health issues reported by staff include heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration, raising concerns about the sustainability of current working conditions if similar weather patterns return in 2027.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham stated that London bus drivers are putting themselves at risk due to appalling conditions. She argued that Arriva can afford to make meaningful changes and that strike action would continue until the company meets the union’s demands. Graham confirmed that members at Arriva North London would continue to have the full backing of the union.

A spokesperson for Arriva London expressed disappointment that the strike was proceeding, noting that five out of the eight north London garages had said they did not want a strike. The operator claimed to have reached agreement with Unite officials on every demand and stated that measures had been introduced this summer to help drivers cope with extreme heat. Arriva also highlighted its ongoing investment in air-conditioning upgrades for driver cabs across its London fleet.

The dispute occurs within the framework of Transport for London’s extreme weather taskforce, of which Arriva, other transport operators, and Unite are members. The taskforce was established to find solutions to weather-related challenges. Further bus driver strikes are planned for eight occasions during September and October.