Strike action hits bus passengers

There were big queues at bus stops due to the strike

Bus passengers are facing delays as drivers stage a second strike over a failure to settle a pay dispute.

About 60 Metroline bus routes mainly serving north and north-west London are affected by the 24-hour strike which began at 0400 GMT.

The Transport and General Workers' Union wants a rate of £11.00 an hour - a 6% rise - compared to the present £10.33 an hour (5% rise) being offered.

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

But the TGWU said a rise of 5% would leave Metroline workers up to £3,000 behind the average wage of other London bus workers.

'Bus workers behind'

Union official Jim Buckley said: "When you are behind you want to catch up and that's what we are trying to do because Metroline bus workers are behind in the pay league not only in terms of wages but also on allowances and shift premiums."

Bus routes operating out of King's Cross, Harrow Weald, North Wembley, Holloway, Potters Bar, Perivale, Edgware, Willesden and Cricklewood garages are affected.

Night bus routes to north London from Trafalgar Square are also affected.

Passengers are being advised to use alternative means of transport.

Drivers belonging to the union walked out for the first time last Tuesday in a row over pay, affecting thousands of commuters.

'Union intransigence'

The union and Metroline have had talks at Acas, the conciliation service, since the last strike.

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

A spokesman for Metroline said: "There is no evidence to support the T&GWU's assertion that drivers are paid £3,000 less than the average, in fact Metroline's drivers are paid as much and in many cases more than average.

"The T&GWU is demanding an increase of 6.5% to achieve their aspiration of £11.00. Following negotiations at ACAS their demand actually rose expecting staff to receive an increase from January of 6.75%.

"This supposed reduction in their demands demonstrates the intransigence of the trade union, who are simply not negotiating with us."