Commuters across East London are facing severe travel disruption this week as more than 300 bus drivers prepare to walk out in a bitter dispute over alleged workplace bullying and union busting.
Strike Details and Union Allegations
Drivers employed by Stagecoach at the Lea Interchange Bus Garage in Leyton will take industrial action on Thursday, January 8 and Friday, January 9. The strike, organised by the Unite union, follows a similar walkout in mid-December that halted services to Westfield Stratford City.
Unite says the action is a direct response to what it describes as 'aggressive, targeted behaviour' towards its depot representatives since a recent management change. The union confirmed that a massive 98 per cent of its members at the garage voted in favour of the protest.
John Murphy, a Unite regional officer, stated: 'We understand that those who rely on these bus services will be concerned to hear of industrial action, but this dispute is entirely the fault of the employer for bullying hardworking members of its workforce.' He added that management still had a chance to avert the disruption by changing its behaviour.
Stagecoach Response and Passenger Impact
Stagecoach London has strongly denied the union's allegations. In a statement, the company said it 'utterly refutes' the claims against its management.
'All employees are held to the same standards of behaviour, regardless of their role, and any allegations of misconduct are handled in line with our established policies and procedures,' the statement read. The operator expressed disappointment at the situation but affirmed its commitment to resolving concerns through proper channels and minimising disruption for customers.
Passengers have been warned to expect 'little to no service' on a dozen key bus routes. Another route is likely to face significant delays or cancellations.
Affected Bus Routes
The following routes are expected to have little to no service during the two-day strike:
- 58
- 97
- 158
- 212
- 230
- 330
- 357
- W13
- W14
- 678
Additionally, passengers using route 86 should prepare for potential delays and cancellations. All other London bus routes and rail services are expected to operate normally.
The strike action is set to cause significant inconvenience for thousands of residents in the east and northeast of the capital, highlighting ongoing tensions in the city's transport network.
