London bus strikes to resume this week as 1,500 drivers walk out – full list of 42 routes hit

Unite are encouraging Arriva North London to come back to the table to ‘stop this disruptive action’

16:10, 23 Aug 2026Updated 16:10, 23 Aug 2026

London bus drivers are pushing on with strikes this week after rejecting attempts to resolve a dispute over working in hot weather. The strike action will impact 42 routes as 1,500 members of Unite in North London and Essex walk out after rejecting an offer from Arriva North London.

The Unite members initially paused their strikes which were meant to happen between August 19 to 21 following negotiations between the union and the employer. Workers were balloted on a new offer which they felt did not go far enough to solve the problems of hot weather working.

The union said its members voted against an offer to resolve the row, adding it did not go far enough to solve the problems of hot weather working. Strikes will restart on Tuesday (August 25) for four days until Friday (August 25), followed by multiple dates in September and October.

Outlining the basis of the disagreement, a Unite spokesperson saud most Arriva North London buses have air cooling systems rather than more effective air conditioning. The air cooling system has only managed to reduce temperatures by around two or three degrees during the recent series of heatwaves, with cabs exceeding 40C.

Unite argues this put drivers at increased danger of fatigue and also led some to suffer health problems including heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration. Drivers will walkout from the following garages: Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, and Wood Green.

The 42 London bus routes facing little to no service during the strike days are: 19, 29, 34, 41, 66, 67, 76, 102, 121, 141, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 217, 221, 243, 248, 254, 259, 279, 307, 313, 329, 341, 349, 370, 375, 377, 616, 675, SL1, SL2, W3, W4. W6, N19, N29, N41 and N279.