Bus drivers rally over more pay

Unite said 28,000 drivers voted in favour of the move

Hundreds of London bus drivers will converge on City Hall during a rally to demand better pay and conditions.

They want the introduction of an equal pay rate across the bus network, which is operated by 18 different companies.

The Unite union, which has organised the rally, said its members were being balloted on strike action on the issue.

A spokesman for mayor Boris Johnson said bus drivers provided an excellent service but he did not have direct control over private bus operators.

'Startling disparity'

Campaigners insist there is a "startling disparity" between bus drivers in London, with pay gaps as much as £6,000 for different operators.

Unite is calling for a single rate of pay for drivers of £30,000 a year, based on a 38-hour week.

Steve Hart, Unite's London Regional Secretary said: "Boris Johnson recently described London's bus drivers as the 'World's finest'.

"If he really believes this then he needs to act quickly to end the huge disparities in pay across London's bus networks."

The union said 28,000 of its members voted overwhelmingly in support of the action which would bring all of London's operators in line.

The mayor's spokesman said: "He (Mr Johnson) has been advised that it is likely there would be significant legal hurdles to overcome before wage negotiations could be carried out on a London-wide basis given that their staff are employed by private companies.

"The mayor also believes it unlikely that setting an annual increase across the capital would be better than the current system, which allows negotiations to take place on a local basis and results in agreements that will reflect the local conditions for drivers."