Bus strikes: Walkouts in north and west London suspended over new pay offer

Strike action involving over 2,000 Metroline bus drivers in London has been suspended after the workers accepted a pay offer.

The workers who are members of the Unite union have accepted an 11% pay increase with a 10% increase on back pay.

The unions said this increase is a significant improvement on the 4% increase the drivers were originally offered by Metroline.

As a result the planned strike action that was to take part this month has been cancelled.

Bus services on routes operated by Metroline Travel in north, northwest and west London are now expected to run as normal from Thursday 8 - Saturday 10 December and Thursday 15 -Saturday 17 December.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a significant victory for our members at Metroline who by standing together and being prepared to take industrial action have secured a greatly improved pay offer.

“This pay deal exemplifies how Unite’s commitment to always prioritise the jobs, pay and conditions of its members is delivering noteworthy financial dividends.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Unite and Metroline have now resolved this dispute.”

The separate strike action involving bus drivers employed by Abellio in south and west London will go ahead as planned on Friday 9 – Saturday 10 and Friday 16 – Saturday 17 December.

This will affect drivers based at garages in Battersea, Beddington, Hayes, Southall, Twickenham and Walworth.

Customers are advised to check before they travel and leave extra time for their journeys.

Abellio remains in talks with Unite and ACAS to find a solution to the dispute.