Another Round of Strikes By Bus Drivers Looms
Metroline staff to walk out over new remote sign on arrangements
London Bus. Picture: Martin49
Over 100 bus routes across north and west London are set to face severe disruption during a 48 hour strike.
Some 4,000 drivers represented by Unite will stage next week’s walkout over the prospect of bus company Metroline imposing “remote sign on”.
This is where drivers could start and finish their shifts at varying locations along a bus route, and would be paid only for the time they are logged into their bus.
But Metroline – whose two subsidiaries Metroline Travel and Metroline West run 105 routes between Islington and Hillingdon – said it has already “halted” the rollout of remote sign on.
The company is saying Unite has no reason to go ahead with the strike between 25-26 May, which will also be followed by a 72-hour strike between 7-9 June.
It also accuses Unite of “walking away” from an offer to negotiate with ACAS, the non-government arbitration service that’s often called on to settle industrial disputes.
Explaining why the remote sign-on is so disliked, one bus driver of 20 years said, “At the moment we go to the bus garage and that’s where I start my shift. But under remote sign-on I could start at a different bus stop every day.
“It means more travelling and bus drivers feeling fatigued, and it would extend our days by a long time and mean using more public transport or not having anywhere to park your car.
“It would make it much more difficult to have a work-life balance and see your children.
“And travelling late at night to different locations would be much less safe, especially for female drivers.”
He added, “All of these changes are really sad, it feels like we’re being exploited after a really hard year. I can’t see myself staying in this industry for much longer”
A Metroline spokesperson said, “On May 11, Unite gave notice of its intention for industrial action unless we ‘halt [the] implementation of remote sign on.’
“We can confirm, as requested, we have halted the implementation of remote sign on and now question why Unite are continuing to pursue industrial action and cause unnecessary disruption to the traveling public.”
The company has also said it would only ask drivers to sign on at garages or bus stands where there are toilets, and that the new system would be voluntary.
Unite regional officer Mary Summers said, “We are sorry for the disruption to the travelling public that the 48-hour and 72-hour strikes will cause, however, we firmly believe that the health and safety of our members must be our paramount consideration.”
The full extent of the disruption is not yet known, but it is thought that the all-out strike would severely affect all routes operated by Metroline Travel and Metroline West.
Metroline Travel operates the following routes:
4, 6, 7, N7, 16, N16, 17, 30, 32, 43, 46, 52, 90, 91, N91, 98, N98, 107, 112, 113, N113, 117, 125, 134, 139, 140, N140, 143, 168, 182, 186, 189, 190, 204, 210, 222, 231, 234, 235, 237, 240, 245, 260, 263, 268, 271, 274, 292, 297, 302, 306, 307, 316, 317, 324, 328, 332, 382, 384, 390, 393, 460, 491, 533, 606, 611, 631, 632, 634, 643, C11, E2, E6, E8, H2, H3, H13, N20, W7, W8, X140
Metroline West operates:
31, N31, 81, 83, N83, 92, 95, 114, 120, 187, 206, 226, 282, 295, 331, 483, 487, 607, A10, U1, U2, U3, U4, U10
Metroline Travel has garages in:
Brentford
Cricklewood
Edgware
Harrow Weald
Holloway
King’s Cross
Perivale
West Perivale
Willesden Junction
Metroline West has garages in:
Alperton
Greenford
Uxbridge
Wallingford
Willesden
May 18, 2021