Bus strikes: London bus drivers to stage two day walkout over Notting Hill Carnival bank holiday weekend

A second 48-hour bus strike in parts of  London is set to cause travel disruptions to visitors attending the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend.

Over 1,600 bus drivers based in west and southwest London are set to take part in a Unite union walk out on Sunday, August 28, and Monday, August 29.

Transport for London (TfL) is warning customers to check before they travel as the strike is expected to impact 63 bus routes operated by London United.

While parts of Surrey will also be affected by the strike.

Unite claims the dispute is a result of the workers only being offered a pay increase of 3.6% for 2022 and 4.2% for next year, saying it would be a “real terms pay cut” because the real inflation rate (RPI) stands at 12.3%.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “RATP is an incredibly wealthy company - it can fully afford to pay its workers a decent pay increase, but it is refusing to do so.

“Our members play a vital role in keeping London moving and they are not going to accept a real terms pay cut when they are already worried about how to make ends meet.

“Our members will be receiving Unite’s complete support until this dispute is resolved.”

Louise Cheeseman, director of buses at TfL, said: “There still will be options for people to travel in west and southwest London and parts of Surrey, but other routes may be busier than normal.

“We’re encouraging everyone who is aiming to travel in and around these areas this Sunday and Monday to plan ahead, check before they travel and leave more time for their journeys.

“Our website is a really easy way to check your travel, whether you’re planning to visit the Notting Hill Carnival, out and about on the bank holiday weekend, or just need to adapt your journey on the go.

“We encourage both parties to find a solution to this dispute to avoid disruption to Londoners.”

Which bus routes will be affected?

The industrial action will disrupt 63 bus routes in west, south-west London and parts of Surrey.

Drivers from these depots are striking: Fulwell, Hounslow, Hounslow Heath, Park Royal, Shepherd’s Bush, Stamford Brook, and Tolworth.

This year’s carnival will return to the streets of Notting Hill for the first time since 2019 after being affected by the pandemic over the past three years.

The following bus routes will be impacted by strike action from 5am on Sunday, August 28, to 5am on Tuesday, August 30:

9, 18, 33, 49, 65, 70, 71, 72, 85, 94, 105, 110, 116, 117, 148, 203, 211, 216, 220, 223, 224, 235, 258, 265, 266, 272, 281, 283, 290, 293, 371, 404, 406, 411, 418, 419, 423, 440, 465, 467, 470, 481, C1, E1, E3, H17, H22, H32, H37, H91, H98, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, N9, N18, N33, N65, N72, N266, S3.

Unite regional officer Michelle Braveboy said: “Strike action will inevitably cause considerable disruption and delays across west and south London, including for the carnival, but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making.”