Bus controllers working in Twickenham and Battersea for Transport UK to walk out for eight days in May.

Bus company staff in London are to escalate strike action next month after their employer failed to make an improved pay offer, Unite confirmed on 24 April.

Around 40 staff who work in the control rooms for Transport UK buses (previously known as Abellio) and who control the bus routes, instruct drivers on traffic jams or accidents, and ensure overall safety on the routes are to take a further eight days of action from 8-10 May and from 13-17 May. 

Control room staff, who use high-tech satellite GPS systems to monitor bus routes across London, have been offered just a five per cent pay increase for 2023 by Transport UK, a substantial real terms pay cut, as inflation stood at 13.4 per cent last January when the pay rise was due, Unite argues. 

The workers earn approximately £10,000 per year less than similar staff at other bus companies and have been offered a smaller pay increase than that offered to members doing the same job at competitor companies. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said "Transport UK has hundreds of millions of pounds of revenue from lucrative London bus contracts and yet it is trying to short-change some of its most vital staff. It needs to understand our members won't stand for it." 

The routes affected by industrial action

• 24
• 27
• 111
• 156
• 159
• 267 - Twickenham
• 285
• 322
• 344
• 345
• 415
• 490 - Twickenham/Richmond
• 969 - Twickenham/Richmond
• H20 - Twickenham
• H25
• H26
• R68 - Richmond
• R70 - Twickenham/Richmond

Unite regional officer Maxine Loza said: "Transport UK's refusal to deliver a vastly improved offer will cause traffic chaos for Londoners.

"Without these vital workers, buses don't run on time and driver and passenger safety is jeopardised. Yet by refusing to come back with an improved offer, Transport UK are showing just how little they value their staff."  

A Transport UK spokesperson has told Nub News: "We have negotiated with Unite since April 2023 regarding pay for its members in our Controller and Officials staff groups.

"It is disappointing to see Unite take unnecessary strike action following an improved offer of a 7% salary increase for 2023, back paid to January 2023, followed by a 3% rise for 2024, back paid to January 2024. 

"This offer is in line with increases made to other groups of staff within the business. 

"We have mitigation plans in place for the upcoming strikes and are working with TfL to ensure Londoners can continue to travel during this needless action. During previous action services ran as normal."

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