London bus strikes: Union suspends driver walkout after improved pay offer

Unite has called off strikes on 52 London bus routes due to start on Tuesday after a last-ditch pay offer was put in front of the union.

The wave of strikes would have seen more than 1,700 drivers working for bus firm Arriva strike on June 20, 21, 27 and 28 amid a dispute over pay.

The union says it has suspended the strikes as a “gesture of goodwill” while drivers vote on whether to accept the improved pay deal.

Unite regional officer Steve Stockwell said: “From the outset Unite has been clear that Arriva could and should make an improved offer and that has proved to be the case.

“It is now up to our members to decide if the offer is sufficient to meet their expectations.”

If the pay offer is rejected then Unite say they will announce fresh industrial action.

TfL has confirmed the routes affected are: 19, 29, 34, 38, 41, 73, 78, 102, 121, 123, 141, 144, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 221, 242, 243, 253, 254, 259, 279, 307, 313, 318, 325, 329, 340, 341, 349, 377, 675, W3, W4, W6, N19, N29, N38, N41, N73, N102, N123, N149, N158, N242, N243, N253, N279, N341.

Unite members voted to take strike action after rejecting a seven per cent pay offer by Arriva, and the union warns further walkouts will follow if the dispute is not resolved.

It claims Arriva - owned by Deutsche Bahn, the national railway company of Germany - is effectively owned by the German government.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Arriva is an extremely wealthy company but it has got its priorities all wrong.

“It needs to be concentrating on paying its workers fairly rather than providing the German government with huge dividends.”

A TfL spokesperson previously said: “We encourage both parties to get round the table and find a solution.”

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