LONDON — London bus drivers have returned to strike action over working in extreme heat, with concerns that promised air conditioning upgrades across Arriva North London’s fleet may not be finished before next summer. Around 1,500 Unite members across north London and Essex are taking part in a four-day stoppage from Tuesday to Friday, following earlier industrial action this month.
The dispute centres on what drivers describe as unsafe temperatures in their cabs during hot weather. Unite says the walkout follows rejected proposals from Arriva North London, after some workers judged that the company’s offer did not go far enough to tackle the problem. Further stoppages are already planned for the coming weeks.
Drivers say cab temperatures have been unsafe for years
Drivers have long complained about “excessive in-cab heat”, saying faulty or inadequate cooling has left temperatures above 30C inside their buses. This year’s record run of five heatwaves has made the issue more acute, with temperatures often climbing above 40C.
Workers say the air-cooling system in their cabs has sometimes reduced temperatures by only 2C to 3C, leaving them at greater risk of fatigue. Some have also reported health problems linked to the heat, including heat exhaustion, heatstroke and dehydration. Unite says the working conditions are not acceptable and that safety remains the central issue in the dispute.
There is also concern among drivers that if heatwaves return in 2027, the fleet could still be vulnerable unless the upgrade programme is completed much sooner. That uncertainty has helped fuel support for continued strike action.
Talks produced an agreement but not enough support from members
Unite and Arriva North London reached an agreement during talks last week, but the offer failed to win over all drivers. According to the union, members at three of the garages involved voted against the new proposal and resumed their strike.
The first round of action took place on 14 and 18 August and affected eight garages: Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green. Unite said those stoppages caused delays and cancellations on more than 40 bus routes across the capital.
The current strike is part of a wider programme of action. Unite has said there will be further stoppages on eight occasions during September and October unless the dispute is resolved. The union’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, said drivers were putting themselves at risk and would continue to have the union’s full backing.
Arriva says it has already agreed every demand with Unite officials
Arriva London said it was disappointed the strike was going ahead, pointing to five of its eight north London garages having indicated they did not want industrial action. The company said it had already reached agreement with Unite officials on every demand and was still trying to understand what concerns remained at the three garages that voted to strike.
The operator said measures had already been introduced this summer to help drivers cope with extreme heat, while it continues to invest in air conditioning upgrades for driver cabs across its London fleet. Arriva North London has 730 buses, and the proposed improvements are expected to affect those vehicles if completed.
Arriva, along with other transport operators and Unite, is part of Transport for London’s extreme weather taskforce. The group was set up to find solutions to weather-related transport challenges, including the effects of heat on frontline staff and passengers.
More stoppages planned as TfL faces another summer heat dispute
The latest walkout underlines how transport operators are being forced to deal with increasingly difficult working conditions during hotter summers. For bus drivers, the combination of long shifts, enclosed cabs and unreliable cooling has become a central workplace concern, especially when temperatures rise sharply for sustained periods.
For passengers, the immediate impact is likely to be further disruption on routes served by the affected garages, with delays and cancellations possible during the four-day stoppage and during any later action in September and October. Unite says the dispute will continue unless members accept a deal that genuinely resolves the issue of heat in the cab.
The focus now is on whether Arriva can complete the air conditioning upgrades quickly enough to reassure drivers before next summer. Until then, the union says it will keep pressing for changes it believes are safe and workable.
The latest UK news and stories from Bailey Universe.
