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Arriva bus drivers begin stoppages amid extreme heat complaints
Unite says many Arriva North London buses have only weak cabin cooling, with drivers’ cabs reaching 40C or higher and some routes lacking toilets, contributing to heat exhaustion and dehydration risk.
More than 1,500 bus drivers at Arriva North London have started planned strike stoppages linked to extreme heat, according to the Guardian Business. The walkouts will run for 26 stoppages through October, with impacts on bus routes across London and Essex and led by the Unite union.
The report says the dispute centers on onboard cooling during heatwaves, with Unite alleging that many buses use older air cooling systems rather than full air conditioning, reducing cabin temperatures by only about 2 to 3 degrees. It also claims some vehicles have broken air conditioning, leaving drivers’ cabs described as near-enclosed “greenhouses” that can reach 40C or higher.
Unite further alleges that some routes lack sufficient toilets, leading members to limit drinking water, and says drivers have experienced “heat exhaustion, heatstroke and dehydration” since the more intense heat phases began in May. The Guardian Business frames the action as tied to broader conditions across the UK during an unusually hot summer.
Arriva’s last reported financial results in the article show a pre-tax profit of £133m. The company says it has introduced short-term measures to protect drivers, and it is also spending on longer-term fixes including cab air-conditioning upgrades and investment in new fleet.