Bus strikes planned for Haringey this week

9:45am Tuesday 26th August 2008

A bus strike is due to hit Tottenham on Friday as drivers walk out in a row over pay.

Bus workers for First Capital East will walk out for 24 hours this Friday after they rejected a pay increase of 3.5 per cent.

They are striking to bring their salaries in line with other main bus operators across the Capital.

The planned industrial action will hit services from Northumberland Park bus depot, including bus numbers 259, 341, 476 and 91.

As many as 2,500 Unite members will walk out across London. Regional organiser for Unite, George Dodo-Williams said: “London bus workers have consistently delivered huge increases in efficiency and performance since the return of local government to London. Even Mayor Boris Johnson acknowledges that London has the world’s finest bus drivers.

"Yet these workers are being forced to take action to stake their claim for a share of the profits generated by their hard work. They are determined to achieve a fair settlement.”

Haringey Trades Council president Keith Flett said: "The rate for the job is a basic principle of fairness at work.

"There should be one London rate for bus workers not several depending on how much profit the various privateers who run London’s bus services think they can screw out of their workers."