Thousands of bus workers across the UK are staging strikes or preparing to ballot for industrial action amid growing anger over low pay and unsafe working conditions. According to Unite, the UK’s leading union, around 7,500 bus staff are currently involved in disputes spanning multiple cities and regions.
The wave of unrest is concentrated in Birkenhead, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Chorley, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Preston, Stoke and Swindon, where workers say wages fail to match the pressures of the job.
Major Strikes Underway in London, Bristol, and Swindon
Walkouts have already been announced by 2,000 London United drivers in West London, 1,000 First West of England drivers in Bristol, and 70 Go South West staff in Swindon.
Additional strikes could soon hit Cardiff and Newcastle if current pay offers are rejected. In Cardiff, 450 drivers are balloting on action, while 600 Stagecoach staff in Newcastle face the same decision. Unite has also warned that further industrial action is being planned across other UK towns and cities in the weeks ahead.
Unite Demands Fair Pay and Better Conditions
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said employers must take responsibility for poor wages and unsafe working environments.
“Bus employers everywhere need to get the message loud and clear: driver pay simply does not reflect the stresses and strains of the job. Fatigue, a lack of toilets, abuse and even assaults are a daily occurrence. Unite will fight tooth and nail for bus workers until wages and conditions improve across the sector,” she stated.
The union has highlighted a rise in abuse against drivers, with staff reporting growing numbers of incidents year after year.
Long Hours and Dangerous Fatigue
Beyond pay, Unite is also campaigning for better rest breaks, access to toilet facilities, and an overhaul of exhausting shift patterns, which it says are causing widespread fatigue among drivers. Research shows that bus drivers are more likely to suffer both mental and physical ill health compared to other professions due to the high-stress nature of the job.
Since the start of 2023, Unite has been involved in 167 bus disputes covering 42,626 workers across the UK, underscoring the scale of the crisis in the sector.
