Planned London Weekend Bus Strike Largely Called Off After Pay Deal

A weekend bus strike that had been set to disrupt scores of routes across London has been largely called off after the majority of Unite union members employed by London United accepted a pay offer, the union said.

Drivers, engineers and controllers on about 60 routes in north-west and south-west London had been due to strike from 05:00 BST on Friday 12 September until the evening of Sunday 14 September. Unite said the London United employees who had been scheduled to take part in the action accepted the employer's proposal on Wednesday, prompting the cancellation of that portion of the planned walkout.

Further negotiations are due between Unite and London Transit, the union added. If the parties fail to reach agreement, some industrial action will still go ahead and is likely to affect routes 13/N13, 23/N23, 31/N31, 218, 295/N295 and 452.

First Bus, which owns both London United and London Transit, said it had made an above-inflation offer. A company spokesperson said the proposal "includes full back pay for all colleagues" and demonstrated its commitment to supporting staff "through the ongoing cost-of-living pressures while balancing the financial challenges we face as a business."

Unite members had been in dispute with the two companies over pay and conditions. The partial call-off of the strike follows several days of transport disruption in the capital caused by separate industrial action. Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have been taking action this week, affecting London Underground services since the walkout began on Sunday.

The striking London Underground staff have led to widespread delays and cancellations across the Tube network, compounding concerns for commuters and businesses about capacity and service reliability ahead of the weekend. Local leaders and transport operators had warned that planned bus action would further strain the city's public transport system if it went ahead.

Unite's announcement means most of the immediate risk of large-scale bus disruption over the weekend has been removed, though the union and London Transit must still reach a settlement to avert further targeted action. Negotiations are expected to focus on the scope of pay increases and back pay arrangements for affected employees.

First Bus cautioned that while the acceptance by London United staff was a positive step, outcomes with London Transit remained uncertain. The company said it would continue talks with unions and representatives to seek a resolution "that is sustainable for both our people and the business."

Commuters and businesses in affected areas had been urged to check travel information and plan for potential delays while talks continue. Transport for London and bus operators typically publish route-specific disruption details when strikes are confirmed; with the large-scale action called off, passengers were advised to monitor official channels for any updates regarding the smaller set of routes that may still be affected.

The dispute is one of several industrial confrontations this year that have spotlighted the financial pressures facing public transport operators and their workforces, as companies balance pay demands against constrained budgets and declining fare revenues. Negotiations between unions and operators will be watched closely for signals about the prospects for further action and the resilience of London’s transport services in the months ahead.