WALTHAM FOREST: Bus strike affects thousands of commuters (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: Bus strike affects thousands of commuters

8:22am Monday 9th November 2009 in Your Local Areas By Carl Brown

BUS passengers face travel misery today as drivers stage a 24-hour walk out.

Members of the Unite union who work for East London Bus and Coach Company went on strike from 3am this morning.

The action is disrupting a total of 58 routes in east London, including a number which go through Waltham Forest, including the 69, 158, 230 and 257 services.

The union members are angry about a pay freeze.

A Unite statement said its members wanted East London to “get back to the negotiating table with a fair and reasonable offer to end this dispute."

But Nigel Barrett, East London Bus company chief executive officer, said:“We need to monitor costs very carefully and responsibly.   “In the current circumstances, we are unable to offer a pay increase and have therefore had to maintain current pay levels.”

Basic pay for a driver employed by East London Bus Company ranges from £28 to 31k, a spokesman said.

Mr Barrett said: “In the current recession we feel that these rates are fair and reasonable and remain above the market average for bus drivers in London.”

For more information on how the dispute could affect you journey today visit www.tfl.gov.uk

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