LONDON 2012: Bus workers vote for strike action in row over Olympic bonus

By Sportsbeat staff

THINK London, think it's iconic red buses. The famous double deckers were even the centrepiece of the handover ceremony during the Beijing Olympics.

ICONIC: A London bus was used as the centrepiece of London 2012 organisers handover ceremony during the 2008 Beijing Games. But the capital's bus drivers are now going in strike in a row over increased Olympic workload 

However, thousands of bus workers in the capital have voted to take strike action in a row over increased workload during the forthcoming Olympics and Paralympics.

Nearly 40 percent of Unite members, working for 21 bus companies, voted 94 percent in favour of industrial action, although no dates have been set.

They want a £500 bonus to cover their services, with 800,000 extra passengers expected during the Games, and Union officials claims their 'patience has finally run out' with bus companies.

They also pointed out that workers on London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railways, Network Rail and Virgin would all receive between £500 to £900 in extra payments.

Peter Kavanagh, Unite regional secretary for London, said: "It's a disgrace that London's mayor, Boris Johnson, and the bus companies have allowed this dispute to get this far.

"Our members are only asking for an extra £17 a day which will just about buy you a pint of beer and a portion of fish and chips at the Olympics.

"Our members want the Games to be a success but their patience has run out."

Transport for London claim the issue must be settled by private bus companies and insist additional hours would be covered by existing overtime arrangements.

© Sportsbeat 2012