Overview
- Drivers represented by Unite began a fresh walkout over hot‑weather cab conditions on Tuesday 18 August and then paused action after talks produced a new company offer.
- The dispute covers more than 1,500 drivers at eight garages — Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green — and affects 42 numbered, night and Superloop routes.
- Arriva has introduced short‑term welfare measures such as extra breaks and welfare checks and has pledged investment in upgraded air‑conditioning systems and new buses while working with Transport for London on technical fixes.
- Unite suspended the immediate strikes to ballot members on the proposal and warned that, if members reject it, action is set to restart from Tuesday 25 August with further planned dates through mid‑October.
- The campaign follows a summer of repeated heatwaves with cab temperatures reported above 40C, which drivers say has caused heat exhaustion and raised safety concerns for staff and passengers and risks wider travel disruption when strikes coincide with planned Piccadilly line closures.