Arriva bus strikes suspended as drivers vote on new offer
Over 1,500 North London drivers paused industrial action after Unite secured fresh negotiations with Arriva
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No affected passengers or Arriva response quoted beyond union.
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Bus services in North London will run as normal this week after Arriva drivers suspended planned strikes to vote on a new pay and conditions offer. The Unite union confirmed the pause on 18 August, two days after industrial action began across eight depots, including Enfield and Edmonton.
The strikes involved more than 1,500 drivers and had been scheduled to continue daily until the early hours of 21 August. Unite said the suspension allows members to ballot on an offer from Arriva, reached after fresh negotiations.
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Why the strikes were called
Drivers walked out on 14 August and again on 18 August over two issues. The first was working conditions during hot weather, which Unite described as unsafe. The second was allegations of bullying against union members and representatives, as reported by This Is Local London.
Steven Stockwell, Unite’s regional officer, said the union had secured an offer from Arriva. He told This Is Local London: "Following talks, Arriva has made an offer to Unite members. To allow our members to have their say on whether to accept this, we have postponed strike action so they can be balloted."
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The strikes affected routes operated from depots in Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, and Wood Green. Arriva has not confirmed whether it will run emergency timetables if strikes resume.
What happens next
Unite members will now vote on the offer from Arriva. The ballot result is expected within days. If the offer is rejected, the union has said strikes will resume from 25 August. No further negotiations have been announced.
Passengers on affected routes are advised to check Arriva’s website or social media for updates. Transport for London has not issued alternative travel advice, but delays are likely if strikes go ahead.
Questions this report answers
+Which bus routes were affected by the strikes?
Routes operated from eight depots were affected, including Enfield, Edmonton, Barking, and Tottenham. Arriva has not published a full list of disrupted services, but passengers should check their local routes for updates.
+What happens if drivers reject the new offer?
If Unite members reject the offer, strikes will resume from 25 August. The union has not confirmed how long the action would last, but previous strikes were planned to continue daily.
+Why did the drivers go on strike?
Drivers walked out over two issues: working conditions during hot weather and allegations of bullying against union members. Unite said the strikes were necessary to address these concerns with Arriva.
+How can passengers check for updates?
Passengers should check Arriva’s website or social media channels for real-time updates. Transport for London may also provide advice if strikes resume and cause significant disruption.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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