Latest editorial
Peter Crane, who has driven for Arriva for 22 years, shows a photo of a temperature reading from inside his cab at 44°C, as he takes part in strike action at Wood Green Bus station in north London
BUS drivers in north London and Essex begin a four-day strike tomorrow in a row over working in extreme heat.
Around 1,500 members of Unite are involved in the dispute with Arriva North London.
The union says that drivers’ cab temperatures can exceed 40°C due to the company’s use of air cooling systems rather than air conditioning, which would be more effective.
Unite paused industrial action planned to run from August 19 to 21 following negotiations.
But the workers rejected the company’s proposals, saying they did not go far enough to solve the problems of working in hot weather.
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.”
A further 16 days of strikes will take place from September 4 to October 20.
![Union members and climate activists set up a ‘cool station’ outside Highbury and Islington station to hand out heatwave safety advice to workers [Pic: Immo Klink]](https://msd11.gn.apc.org/sites/default/files/styles/desktop/public/2026-08/07_Heatstrike-Islington-3924-Immo-Klink.jpg.webp?itok=-IIt7ME_)
More than 1,500 London bus drivers set for heatwave strikes this Friday
