Bus workers in the fragmented London transport system are protesting against working conditions, but a concerted rank-and-file organisation is needed to pursue the fight, argues Pete Webster

Around 150 London bus drivers, members of Unite the Union, marched to Transport for London’s (TfL) HQ on Tuesday (5/11) to demand better working conditions under the Stand Up for Bus Workers campaign and the Bus Workers’ Charter. TfL is the over-arching body that oversees most aspects of transport in London and is directed by the Mayor, Sadiq Khan.

Insanely, the capital’s buses are run by around fifteen separate companies – the likes of Arriva, Metrobus and Metroline – all with different terms and conditions that intentionally keeps the various garages fragmented and undermines joint action across the operators. This is an inevitable consequence of running an essential public service for private profit.

Leaving aside the myriad of pay grades within these companies – another area of contention – there are a wide range of operational issues recurring across them that are of concern to all bus drivers. These include safe working schedules, proper rest breaks during the shifts, access to clean and serviced toilet facilities, air cooling in cabs during the summer heat and heaters for the depths of winter.

The problems highlight some key safety issues not only for bus drivers but also for the millions of people that rely on these essential services to get to work, school and shops. It’s in everyone’s interest to support them.

Many on the demo agreed with speakers who highlighted issues around vehicle and passenger safety with many drivers being instructed to take out buses that had a variety of red warning lights on the driver’s control panel including non-operational automatic brakes on middle doors.

Others gave examples of traffic-control managers instructing drivers to curtail their already limited breaks or face either being reported as ‘sick’ or the threat of disciplinary action. Clearly, there are a lot of issues that can unite activists across the different London companies and this initial demonstration was an excellent start. 

But it will require a concerted effort by local union reps to strengthen the resolve within depots that also highlights the need to build a combative rank-and-file organisation across London that can overcome not only their own management, but build links with fellow workers across all the operators.

Neither the private companies nor TfL will take the drivers’ demands seriously unless there is a sustained campaign for industrial action across London.