London bus drivers have backed a proposal for strike action over pay.

Employees from 18 bus companies have voted in favour of industrial action the union Unite has announced.

The vote in favour, averaged 85 per cent across the 18 companies, raising the prospect of a London wide bus strike in the new year.

According to the union if the capital’s bus operators are refusing to enter talks about the formation of a single London wide agreement covering bus workers’ pay, terms and conditions.

In contrast to tube drivers, there is not one collective pay deal for bus drivers in the capital, whose pay is negotiated on a company by company basis.

Drivers say this leaves to pay inequality.

There are pay gaps of over £3 an hour for new starters opening up with pay varying from £9.30 to £12.34 an hour depending on the company.

Wayne King London regional officer for Unite said: “This overwhelming vote in favour of strike action across London’s buses should be a wake-up call to the capital’s bus operators who continue to defend pay inequality.

“London’s bus operators need to enter into meaningful talks aimed at ending pay inequality and establishing a collective forum that covers bus workers’ pay terms and conditions in London.

“Otherwise their continued refusal risks the disruption of a London wide bus strike in the new year.”