Bus drivers marched to Transport for London’s headquarters on Tuesday in protest of their working conditions.
Trekking from Moreland Street to Blackfriars Road, protestors held up signs that read “Stop the fatigue danger!” and “Stand up for bus drivers”.
The unsafe working conditions they allege are that there no decent toilets or proper rest breaks, and unfair schedules.
Cas, Unite’s National Lead Officer, says the union “absolutely has [their] backs.”
He says that TfL claims to have processes in place to deal with overly hot bus conditions.
“But here’s the reality” Cas said, “We are representing one of our members who nearly passed out because the cab was so hot. ”
Cas said this member got out of the cab, called his employer, and was told unless he is back on the bus in ten minutes, he will be deemed to be on sick leave.
The group’s demands are not exclusive to advocating for working air cooling in cabs during heatwaves.
Drivers are also campaigning for more serviced toilets facilities on all bus routes.
Lorraine, a retired London bus driver, says there are simply not enough toilets.
(embed tweet).
Not just bus drivers
City News heard from Tom Kearney, a pedestrian who was hit by a TFL bus in London about fifteen years ago.
Mr Kearney was flung 20 feet by a bus in Oxford Street.
Despite the accident putting Mr Kearney into a GCS3 coma temporarily, he is a firm advocate for improving bus-worker rights.
He believes improving unsafe working conditions for drivers will in turn reduce pedestrian fatalities in the city.
Kearney shared road accident statistics with the crowd, such as: “One in ten road traffic accident fatalities in London in the last ten years has involved a TFL bus.”
Protestors’ eyes were then directed to a banner behind the speakers.
Here the London Bus Workers’ Bill of Rights outlined twelve requests the group is demanding.
*embded*
It is unknown if the protest will prompt official change.
TfL were contacted for comment, however did not respond to City News.
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Headline‘How do you feel knowing that could be your bus?’: Bus drivers protest working conditions
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Bus drivers marched to Transport for London’s headquarters on Tuesday in protest of their working conditions.
Trekking from Moreland Street to Blackfriars Road, protestors held up signs that read “Stop the fatigue danger!” and “Stand up for bus drivers”.
The unsafe working conditions they allege are that there no decent toilets or proper rest breaks, and unfair schedules.
Cas, Unite’s National Lead Officer, says the union “absolutely has [their] backs.”
He says that TfL claims to have processes in place to deal with overly hot bus conditions.
“But here’s the reality” Cas said, “We are representing one of our members who nearly passed out because the cab was so hot. ”
Cas said this member got out of the cab, called his employer, and was told unless he is back on the bus in ten minutes, he will be deemed to be on sick leave.
The group’s demands are not exclusive to advocating for working air cooling in cabs during heatwaves.
Drivers are also campaigning for more serviced toilets facilities on all bus routes.
Lorraine, a retired London bus driver, says there are simply not enough toilets.
(embed tweet).
Not just bus drivers
City News heard from Tom Kearney, a pedestrian who was hit by a TFL bus in London about fifteen years ago.
Mr Kearney was flung 20 feet by a bus in Oxford Street.
Despite the accident putting Mr Kearney into a GCS3 coma temporarily, he is a firm advocate for improving bus-worker rights.
He believes improving unsafe working conditions for drivers will in turn reduce pedestrian fatalities in the city.
Kearney shared road accident statistics with the crowd, such as: “One in ten road traffic accident fatalities in London in the last ten years has involved a TFL bus.”
Protestors’ eyes were then directed to a banner behind the speakers.
Here the London Bus Workers’ Bill of Rights outlined twelve requests the group is demanding.
*embded*
It is unknown if the protest will prompt official change.
TfL were contacted for comment, however did not respond to City News.
