London bus strikes called off as drivers to get air conditioning
Arriva London North bus drivers have secured an agreement to have air conditioning installed in their cabs by May 2027 following industrial action over extreme heat. The deal also mandates that buses with faulty climate control systems must be removed from service after 35 minutes.
Why it matters
This victory highlights growing labor concerns regarding workplace safety in the context of climate change and may set a precedent for other transport operators.
Image caption, Some drivers said their cab's temperature was as high as 50C
Air conditioning will be fitted in some London buses in what the Unite union described as a "ground-breaking victory" for drivers for Arriva London North.
Drivers based at Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green took industrial action last month over hot weather working conditions.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the deal meant "drivers will no longer be expected to carry on and sweat it out".
The agreement also limits the duration drivers must endure broken heating or cooling systems to 35 minutes before the bus is stopped and returned to the garage.
Image caption, The air conditioning should be in place by next summer
Tom Edwards, BBC London transport correspondent
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