London bus strikes to resume over working conditions in extreme heat

Drivers employed by Arriva North London will walk out until 4.30am on Friday

Aug 25, 2026 - 17:15

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London bus strikes to resume over working conditions in extreme heat

Bus strikes over hot weather working conditions are set to begin again in north London and Essex.

From Tuesday, over 1,500 bus drivers employed by Arriva North London will walk out until 4.30am on Friday.

Industrial action by the Unite members was previously put on hold from 19 to 21 August amid negotiations between the union and employer.

Workers were balloted on a new offer but found it “does not go far enough to solve the problems of hot weather working”, said Unite.

The drivers had originally planned 26 days of action over what they say is Arriva North London’s failure to act on working conditions during extreme heat.

Drivers from eight bus garages – Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green – are involved in the dispute.

The industrial action comes after a summer in which the UK has struggled with drought and extreme heat.

On Thursday, 13 August, the Met Office reported the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures surging to 38.1C at Kew Gardens in West London.

The union says that most Arriva buses operate with air cooling systems rather than air conditioning, leaving drivers exposed to extreme temperatures during the recent series of heatwaves.

Unite is calling on Arriva to fit all buses with effective air conditioning, arguing that working in scorching temperatures is dangerous for drivers, whose cabs can reach highs of more than 40 degrees. Such temperatures can cause health issues including heatstroke and exhaustion, fatigue, dehydration and dizziness.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “London bus drivers do a vital job, but are putting themselves at risk due to these appalling conditions.

“Arriva can fully afford to make meaningful changes our members can accept. Until that happens, strike action will continue, and our members at Arriva North London will continue to have the full backing of Unite.”

The following bus services will be impacted: 19, 29, 34, 41, 66, 67, 76, 102, 103, 121, 141, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 217, 221, 243, 248, 254, 259, 279, 307, 313, 329, 341, 349, 370, 375, 377, 616, 675, SL1, SL2, W3, W4. W6, N19, N29, N41, N279.

Planned strikes in August and September will coincide with closures on the Piccadilly line, with significant delays and cancellations expected.

Lorna Murphy, director of buses at TfL, apologised for the disruption. “We know that any disruption to London's bus network can have a significant impact on our customers, and we're working closely with Arriva to help customers travel during these periods of strike action,” she told The Independent.

“We encourage anyone travelling in the affected areas to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys, and check before they travel using the TfL Go app or our website.”