Bus strikes: London walkouts called off after workers receive new pay offer

Thousands of Arriva bus drivers in north London have called off planned strike action after receiving a new pay offer.

Action involving 2,000 Unite members employed by Arriva at eight depots was set to begin on Tuesday October 4.

But the union now says its members will be balloted on a new offer.

Unite regional officer Steve Stockwell said: “Following intensive negotiations a new offer has been tabled and as an act of goodwill the planned strike action has been suspended.”

The union had previously said its members would walk out indefinitely unless they were offered a pay increase in line with the RPI inflation rate of 12.3%.

Action was set to involve drivers at eight depots in north and east London in Ash Grove, Barking, Clapton, Edmonton, Enfield, Palmers Green, Tottenham and Wood Green.

Rail strikes by Aslef and RMT unions are set to go ahead, which are on course to disrupt the Conservative Party conference and the London Marathon.

Aslef, the train drivers’ union, members will walk out on Saturday, October 1, and Wednesday, October 5, in the ongoing dispute over pay.

While RMT union members will strike for 24 hours on October 1.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Transport workers are joining a wave of strike action on October 1, sending a clear message to the government and employers that working people will not accept continued attacks on pay and working conditions at a time when big business profits are at an all-time high.

”The Summer of Solidarity we have seen will continue into the Autumn and Winter if employers and the government continue to refuse workers reasonable demands.”

He added: “We want a settlement to these disputes where our members and their families can get a square deal.

“And we will not rest until we get a satisfactory outcome.”

Other sectors hit by industrial action include higher education with about 4,000 members of the University and College Union (UCU) at 31 colleges in England taking up to 10 days of strike action over the coming weeks.