Planned bus strike in south west London suspended after new pay offer
A planned strike by bus workers has been called off after a new pay offer was made.
A spokesperson for the union Unite said the industrial action, which would have seen 40 control room staff based in Battersea and Twickenham walk off the job from May 8, has been suspended.They said the improved offer came after “extensive negotiations” and will now be voted on by its members.
Unite regional official Maxine Loza said: “Transport UK has come forward with a new pay offer that will now be put to a ballot of our members.
“As a goodwill gesture, Unite is suspending the planned industrial action that was due to begin next week."
The strike by staff working for the firm, which was previously known as Abellio, was planned for May 8-10 and May 13-17.
The routes that would have been affected are primarily in south and south west London and include: 24, 27, 111, 156, 159, 267, 285, 322, 344, 345, 415, 490, 969, H20, H25, H26, R68 and the R70.
The workers, who instruct drivers on potential traffic jams or accidents, previously went on strike for nine days in March.
The union originally said its members had been offered just a five per cent pay increase which it called a substantial real terms pay cut as inflation stood at 13.4 per cent last January when the pay rise was due. When the planned industrial action was first announced, a spokesman for the bus company said it was “unnecessary” and its offer was “in line with increases made to other groups of staff within the business”.
