East London Bus & Coach Company (UNITE) Strike Calendar
Strike Type: Bus
Latest East London Bus & Coach Company Industrial Action Updates (3)
There is further strike action ongoing at Bow bus garage in East London as a dispute around scheduling and driver fatigue continues. Over 300 drivers at the East London Bus & Coach Company (part of Stagecoach) are striking from today (27 May) to Friday (29 May) and then from 11 to 14 June. It comes after the employer has failed to listen to their concerns about scheduling and rota issues, which workers say is leading to severe fatigue issues.
These include bus drivers completing multiple hour and a half long journeys without adequate breaks, having just 10 hours of rest times between shifts and Stagecoach refusing to schedule meal relief breaks at the depot, leaving drivers without a suitable area to recover as well as expecting them to refuel vehicles using remote electric charge points, which increases work demands.
There will be further disruption to bus services going across east to central London beginning from next week, as over 300 drivers at the East London Bus & Coach Company have escalated industrial action. The dispute concerns bus driver fatigue. Drivers at the East London Bus & Coach Company (part of Stagecoach) are driving long distances without adequate breaks, have had increased weekend working and are not given sufficient time between shifts to recuperate.
Meanwhile, meal breaks are not being scheduled at the depot with many workers taking these on the side of the road instead of in an adequate rest area. This situation is leaving drivers concerned about their own health and safety as well as that of passengers and pedestrians. Drivers at Bow bus garage have reported having 'near misses' while driving due to the fact they are driving while fatigued.
Drivers at the Bow bus garage are being made to cover long distances without adequate breaks, causing fatigue and leaving workers concerned that passengers are being endangered. They are often not being provided with sufficient time between shifts to recuperate, while Stagecoach is refusing to schedule meal breaks at the depot, meaning drivers do not have a suitable area to rest.
Bus driver fatigue is a very serious problem, leading to a higher risk of accidents such as bus crashes. Factors that lead to fatigue include long shifts, insufficient breaks and inadequate running times resulting in drivers undertaking overtime to complete journeys.
East London Bus & Coach Company Strike Calendar
10 Strike Dates 4 Planned