Ballot Being Held on Strike Action on Local Buses

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Dispute at RATP could affect routes across west and south west London

Buses inside the RATP garage in Shepherd's Bush. Picture: RATP

August 10, 2023

Many bus routes across west and south west London could grind to a halt as workers consider strike action as part of a pay dispute. The union Unite, which represents transport workers on many different networks throughout the capital has warned that as many as 500 employees of transport company RATP including drivers, engineers, controllers and supervisors could walk out.

The dispute could affect routes and garages across West and North London after workers rejected a pay settlement with provider RATP Group. Disruption to the public could be felt more than in previous strikes as the involvement of the controllers and engineers in industrial action would mean that no buses will be able to operate from any of RATP’s garages.

RATP has 10 garages in North and West London including in Chiswick (Stamford Brook), Shepherd’s Bush and Park Royal. According to Unite all 112 routes run by RATP could be affected by action leading to “severe disruption”. The French company is contracted to run bus lines on behalf of Transport for London and has seen several cases of strike action taken by workers in the past few years.

The ballot to gauge whether workers are willing to strike if a pay deal is not increased will open on Monday, 14 August and close on Monday, 11 September. If workers vote for industrial action, then strikes could begin before the end of next month.

Unite regional officer Michelle Braveboy said, “Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption to bus passengers across West and North London, but this dispute is entirely the own making of RATP’s management. They have had every opportunity to make an offer to meet our members’ expectations but have failed to do so.”

Workers were offered various pay increases of between five and 6.4 per cent, however, they were rejected because they fall below the current inflation rate which stands at 10.7 per cent meaning a pay cut in real terms.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “RATP is a huge multinational company that can fully afford to pay our members a decent pay increase. RATP needs to stop dragging its feet and make our members a fair pay offer. Unite does what it says on the trade union tin and it always puts the jobs, pay and conditions of its members first. The workers at RATP will be receiving Unite’s total support.”

A TfL spokesperson said, “We encourage both parties to work together to come to an agreement and avoid disruption to Londoners.”

RATP has been contacted for comment.

Routes that could be affected include:

9 – Hammersmith – Aldwych
13 – North Finchley – Victoria
18 – Sudbury – Euston
23 – Westbourne Park – Hammersmith
28 – Kensal Rise – Wandsworth
33 – Fulwell, South Road – Lonsdale Road, Castelnau
49 – White City – Clapham Junction
65 – Kingston – Ealing Broadway Station
70 – Chiswick Business Park – South Kensington
71 – Kingston – Chessington
72 – East Acton – Hammersmith Bridge, North Side
79 – Edgware Bus Station – Alperton Sainsbury’s
85 – Kingston – Putney Bridge
94 – Acton Green – Piccadilly Circus
105 – Heathrow Airport Central – Greenford
110 – Hounslow Bus Station – Hammersmith Bus Station
116 – Hounslow Bus Station – Ashford Hospital
117 – West Middlesex Hospital – Staines
125 – Colindale Station – Winchmore Hill
148 – White City – Camberwell
183 – Golders Green Station – Pinner
203 – Hounslow – Staines
211 – Hammersmith Bus Station – Waterloo Station
216 – Staines – Kingston
218 – North Acton – Hammersmith
220 – Willesden Junction Station – Wandsworth
223 – Wembley Central Station – Harrow Bus Station
224 – Alperton – St Raphaels
226 – Ealing Broadway – Golders Green
228 – Central Middlesex Hospital – Maida Hill
235 – North Brentford Quarter – Sunbury Village
251 – Edgware Station – Arnos Grove Station
258 – South Harrow Station – Watford Junction
266 – Acton, Town Hall – Brent Cross
272 – Chiswick– Shepherd’s Bush Green
281 – Hounslow – Tolworth
283 – East Acton – Hammersmith, Bus Station
288 – Queensbury Morrisons – Broadfields Estate
290 – Staines Bus Station – Twickenham Station
293 – Morden Station – Epsom General Hospital
295 – Clapham Junction – Ladbroke Grove
303 – Edgware Bus Station – Kingsbury Circle
326 – Brent Cross Shopping Centre – Barnet Spires
371 – Richmond (Manor Circus) – Kingston
395 – Harrow – Greenford, Westway Cross
398 – Ruislip Station – Wood End
404 – Coulsdon – Caterham on the Hill
406 – Epsom – Kingston via Ewell
411 – West Molesey – Kingston
414 – Marble Arch – Putney Bridge
418 – Epsom – Kingston via West Ewell
419 – Richmond – Roehampton, Bessborough Road
423 – Hounslow – Heathrow Airport (Terminal 5)
440 – Turnham Green – Wembley Stadium
452 – Kensal Rise – Vauxhall
465 – Dorking – Kingston
467 – Hook – Ewell – Epsom
481 – Isleworth, West Middlesex Hospital – Kingston
613 – Tolworth – Glenthorne School
639 – Roehampton – St John Bosco College
655 – Mitcham to Raynes Park High School
662 – Surbiton Station – Holy Cross School
665 – Berrylands Road – Holy Cross School
670 – Roehampton – St John Bosco College
681 – Hounslow – Teddington School
696 – Hayes – Ruislip
697 – Hayes End – Ickenham
698 – West Drayton Station – Ickenham
C1 – Victoria – White City
C3 – Earls Court – Clapham Junction
E1 – Ealing Broadway – Greenford Broadway
E3 – Chiswick – Greenford Broadway
H9 – Northwick Park & Harrow circular via Kenton (anti-clockwise)
H10 – Northwick Park & Harrow circular via Kenton (clockwise)
H11 – Harrow – Mount Vernon Hospital
H12 – South Harrow Station – Stanmore Station
H14 – Northwick Park Hospital – Hatch End
H17 – Harrow – Wembley Central Station
H18 – Harrow circular (clockwise via Headstone Lane & Kenton)
H19 – Harrow circular (anti-clockwise via Kenton & Headstone Lane)
H22 – Hounslow (Bell Corner) – West Middlesex Hospital
H37 – Hounslow (Blenheim Centre) – Richmond (Manor Circus)
H98 – Hounslow – Hayes End (Kingsway)
K1 – New Malden Station – Kingston
K2 – Hook Library – Kingston Hospital
K3 – Roehampton Vale Asda – Esher High Street
K4 – Mansfield Estate – Kingston Hospital
K5 – Ham – Morden
KU1 – Seething Wells – Roehampton Vale
KU2 – Clayhill Campus – Clayhill Campus (looped service)
KU3 – Seething Wells Campus – Roehampton Vale Campus
N5 – Edgware Station – Trafalgar Square
N9 – Aldwych – Heathrow Airport Terminal 5
N18 – Trafalgar Square – Sudbury – Harrow Weald
N28 – Camden Town – Wandsworth
N33 – Fulwell – Hammersmith
N65 – Chessington – Ealing Broadway
N72 – Roehampton – East Acton
N266 – Hammersmith – Brent Cross
S3 – Malden Manor – Sutton Hospital
X140 – Harrow-Heathrow

Noah Vickers - Local Democracy Reporter

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