London bus strikes 2023: Drivers end walkouts after union accepts ‘greatly improved’ pay offer

More than 1,800 London bus drivers have ended strike action after workers accepted a “greatly improved pay offer,” a union has said.

Unite said its members employed by Abellio in south and west London would end their long running dispute after securing a significant pay rise.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an important pay victory. Workers have stood firm and with the support of their union, Unite, they have secured a richly deserved pay increase.

“Unite’s constant focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of our members is continuing to deliver increased pay awards for workers.”

The union said the pay deal meant drivers with two or more years’ experience would receive £18 an hour, an increase of 18% on the basic rate.

Negotiations over the last few weeks also saw an increase to the rate for new starters and increased rates for Saturday/Sunday working

Unite said an agreement to negotiate a new scheduling agreement was pivotal to ending the industrial action.

The series of 20 days of strikes late last year had affected union members based at depots in Battersea, Beddington, Hayes, Southall, Twickenham and Walworth.

Strikes planned for Monday and Tuesday last week were also called off while union members were balloted on whether to end their action.

February 20 and 21, and five successive days in early March, had also been earmarked for strikes.

A spokesperson from Abellio London said: “We are delighted that our drivers have now accepted the substantial pay rise we put in place in early January.

“It brings to an end a difficult period of industrial action which has been tough for the company, our drivers and our customers.

“With the issue now settled we look forward to continuing to offer Londoners outstanding service on our routes while making innovations on sustainable public transport.”

Louise Cheeseman, Director of Buses at TfL, said: “We’re pleased that Abellio and Unite have reached an agreement that means Londoners can continue to rely on our bus network for their journeys.”