Passengers warned over bus strike

Thousands of passengers were affected in last week's strike

Bus passengers face more delays on Monday as drivers stage a second 24-strike over pay.

Some 60 bus routes serving north, central and west London, and parts of Hertfordshire, will be affected when the walkout begins at 0400 GMT.

The Transport and General Workers' Union wants an average 5.75% wage increase in line with similar pay offers from other London bus operators.

Metroline described its 5% offer as "still the best deal in London".

Drivers belonging to the union walked out for the first time last Tuesday, affecting thousands of commuters.

Another strike has been scheduled to for 27 November.

Catch up

The industrial action is due to affect routes out of King's Cross, Wembley, Holloway, Potters Bar, Perivale, Edgware, Willesden and Cricklewood.

Main routes hit included the 134, 139, 24, 263, 82 and 113, as well as many night bus routes to North London out of Trafalgar Square.

The union and the company have had talks at the conciliation service (Acas) since the last strike.

The talks broke down despite Metroline increasing its initial offer by 1% to 5%, and the union moving its claim to down from 6% to 5.75% for the eight months from 1st April 2006, and 1% for the 3 months from 1st January.

A T&G spokesman said: "Metroline bus workers are behind in the pay league in terms of other London bus workers not only in terms of pay but also allowances and shift premiums.

"When you're behind you want to catch up and that's what we are about."

A Metroline statement said the pay offer was "fair and reasonable in the context of recent improvements to pay and our current financial performance".