A 24-hour strike by bus drivers in London over pay and conditions has begun.
Unite union members working for the bus company Tower Transit walked out at 00:01 GMT.
Drivers are taking action on 13 bus routes in east and central London.
Unite said its members were left with little choice but to strike. Transport for London (TfL) apologised for the disruption, but said the dispute was between Tower Transit and the union.
Tower Transit could not be contacted for comment.
'Workforce respect'TfL said there could be severe disruption on the affected bus services and commuters have been urged to check before they travel.
Mike Weston, TfL's director of buses, said: "Bus drivers' pay and conditions are a matter for Tower Transit and Unite to discuss, as it has been for the last 20 years, and we would urge them to seek a swift and fair resolution for the sake of our passengers."
A Unite spokesperson said: "Faced with an increasingly hostile management which is hell bent on driving down the pay, terms and conditions, our members have been left with little option but to take the unusual step of striking.
"Tower Transit need to get back around the negotiating table and start treating its workforce with respect."
The industrial action is the first strike over the dispute, with a second 24-hour walkout planned for 5 January.
On 18 December London bus drivers voted in favour of industrial action against London's 18 bus companies which have individual pay deals with TfL.
Bus drivers take industrial action
Put the internet to work for you.
0 comments:
Post a Comment