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London bus strike: Staff walk out over pay differences London bus strike: Staff walk out over pay differences
(about 9 hours later)
More than six million Londoners are likely to be affected by a 24-hour bus strike which began at midnight. Bus drivers in London are taking part in a 24-hour strike.
As many as 94% of routes could be affected as about 27,000 workers walk out over the pay differences between the capital's 18 bus companies. Members of the Unite union walked out at 00:00 GMT over pay differences between the capital's 18 bus companies.
Transport for London (TfL), which managed to run about a third of routes during a bus strike last month, called it "totally unnecessary". Transport for London (TfL), which said about 47% of routes were running, called it "totally unnecessary".
The Unite union said the pay system was in "chaos" and had to be changed. The Unite union said the pay system was in "chaos" and had to be changed. Bus company Tower Transit said the union wanted them to "act as a cartel", which they legally could not.
TfL warned there would be significant disruption to bus services across London on Thursday and also to night bus services operating into Friday morning. TfL warned there would be disruption to bus services across London and to night bus services operating into Friday morning.
'Totally unnecessary''Totally unnecessary'
Bus services during the day on Friday should operate as normal.
If there is the same level of disruption as in the previous strike it could affect about 630 out of 670 routes.
Forty-four bus routes are not affected by the strike and should run a normal service, said TfL.Forty-four bus routes are not affected by the strike and should run a normal service, said TfL.
Bus services during the day on Friday should operate as normal.
It is the first of three 24-hour bus strikes planned this month. The next are scheduled for 13 and 16 February.It is the first of three 24-hour bus strikes planned this month. The next are scheduled for 13 and 16 February.
Members of Unite want an end to salary differences between firms that can see staff salaries differ from £17,000 to £25,000.Members of Unite want an end to salary differences between firms that can see staff salaries differ from £17,000 to £25,000.
TfL has said that changing this could cost up to £100m a year. In an open letter in the Evening Standard, it called the strike "totally unnecessary".TfL has said that changing this could cost up to £100m a year. In an open letter in the Evening Standard, it called the strike "totally unnecessary".
'Hundreds of rates' However Metroline bus driver Steve O'Rourke, who was on the picket line in Archway, called for the bus companies to take action.
But Pete Kavanagh, London regional secretary of Unite, said: "We've got a two-tier workforce in which people coming into the industry in recent years never get to the top rate of pay. He said: "It is very simple really, we are doing exactly the same job.
"We've literally got hundreds of rates of pay and this has got to stop. "We drive up and down the roads with places that other companies are running as well and yet we are on different rates of pay."
"It's chaos going on out there. We want a sensible, rational pay structure." 'Act as a cartel'
Pete Kavanagh, London regional secretary of Unite, said: "We've got a two-tier workforce in which people coming into the industry in recent years never get to the top rate of pay.
"We've literally got hundreds of rates of pay and this has got to stop."
The bus companies affected are Abellio, Arriva, CT Plus, Go Ahead, London Sovereign, London United, Metroline, Stagecoach and Tower Transit.
John Traynor, from Go Ahead London, which runs a quarter of the capital's bus network, told BBC London 94.9 about 75% of its routes were running.
"I've said to the unions in by all if you want me to address pay disparity about minimum rates and to close to gap I can do that but they are unwilling to meet us locally," he said.
Tower Transit Chairman Neil Smith said the company was running double the services it had run in the previous strike on 13 January.
"There are disparities due to length of service and there are disparities due to geography," said Mr Smith.
"This is an attempt to force a group of competing operators who are delivering a very cost effective bus service for London to act as a cartel and our legal advice is we cannot do that."
Leon Daniels from TfL said: "It's not a matter for TfL to step in on.Leon Daniels from TfL said: "It's not a matter for TfL to step in on.
"For the last 20 years, we've run a brilliant bus service as a result of local pay negotiation between the local drivers and their employers.""For the last 20 years, we've run a brilliant bus service as a result of local pay negotiation between the local drivers and their employers."
The bus companies affected are Abellio, Arriva, CT Plus, Go Ahead, London Sovereign, London United, Metroline, Stagecoach and Tower Transit.