London bus strikes to resume from today
Key Points
- Over 1,500 Arriva North London drivers restart strikes on Tuesday 25 August
- Drivers rejected Arriva's offer on hot weather working conditions
- TfL confirms 42 affected routes across north, east and central London
- Cab temperatures reach 40 degrees; air cooling cuts only two to three degrees
- Further strike dates run through September and October
More than 1,500 Arriva North London bus drivers restart strike action on Tuesday (25 August), hitting 42 routes across north London and Essex.
Unite paused the industrial action from 19 to 21 August while the union and the operator held talks, then balloted members on a new offer covering working conditions.
Drivers voted it down on the grounds that it did not go far enough to solve the problems of hot weather working. The rejection triggers the strike dates the union had already scheduled through to late October.
Most buses in the Arriva North London fleet run air cooling systems rather than air conditioning, which cools more effectively. Through the recent series of heatwaves those systems have cut in-cab temperatures by only around two or three degrees, and driver cabs reach 40 degrees and higher.
The union said the temperatures raise the risk of driver fatigue and have left some drivers with heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration.
“London bus drivers do a vital job, but are putting themselves at risk due to these appalling conditions,” said Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite. “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.”
Arriva’s most recent financial figures, published in mid-2025, recorded a pre-tax profit of €156 million and an operating profit of €127 million.
The action runs from Tuesday (25 August) to 28 August.
Further dates follow on 4 to 5 September, 7 to 8 September, 18 to 19 September and 21 to 22 September, then 2 to 3 October, 5 to 6 October, 16 to 17 October and 19 to 20 October.
Drivers taking part work out of eight garages: Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green. Transport for London has confirmed 42 affected routes covering north, east and central London, including night buses, school services and Superloop routes, and expects little or no service on those routes on strike days.
The earlier rounds of action on 14 August and 18 August brought delays and cancellations across more than 40 routes in the capital. Several strike dates coincide with Piccadilly Line engineering closures, including a shutdown between Cockfosters and Uxbridge from 25 to 27 August, removing an alternative for passengers in the same parts of north London.
Unite has also alleged bullying of its representatives and members by Arriva North London management, a strand of the dispute that sits alongside the hot weather claims.
“There is still time for Arriva to stop this disruptive action, but it relies on it coming back to the table with a deal our members believe will solve the serious problems with conditions once and for all,” said Steven Stockwell, regional officer at Unite.
Arriva has said it is investing in longer-term improvements including upgrades to cab air conditioning and new vehicles, and that it remains willing to hold talks with Unite to resolve the dispute.
