A trade union representing bus drivers has threatened to go on strike over the possible loss of sixteen London routes, including three in Southwark.
Unite said the proposed cuts were “an attempt to make London’s bus workers pay the price for the pandemic”.
Transport for London (TfL) and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan are proposing to cut the routes and reduce others under pressure from central government to reduce costs.
But Unite said that it was concerned over possible redundancies and loss of income from the proposed cuts, which TfL is consulting on until July 12. Arriva, which runs about 100 routes in London for TfL, previously said “no redundancies would be expected as a result of these proposed changes.”
Bus drivers ‘first heard they could lose route from rival company’
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These cuts are an attempt to make London’s bus workers pay the price for the pandemic and we reject them entirely. The option of Unite taking industrial action to protect our members is fully on the table.
“Bus cuts also always harm those who can least afford to lose the bus service, our poorest communities. The mayor and the London Assembly must firmly reject TfL’s plans and stand up to the Westminster government.
“Don’t cut workers’ jobs and pay, don’t cut communities off. Instead, get on the side of working people and demand the funding needed to run a sustainable public transport system in London.”
‘A kick below the belt’: passengers and drivers react to possible Nunhead bus cut
As part of the cuts proposed by TfL, the 78, which runs from Nunhead through Peckham and Bermondsey to Shoreditch, the 45, which goes from Brixton through Camberwell to Elephant and Castle, and the 12, which runs from Dulwich, through Peckham and Camberwell to the Elephant, would all be scrapped. TfL has said it will make changes to other routes to make up for some of the lost routes.
Southwark Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens have all condemned the proposed cuts, alongside passengers and drivers themselves.
TfL is consulting on the proposals until July 12, so you can have your say here.
Sign a petition against the cuts here.