Bus strike causes disruption in Kingston (From Kingston Guardian)

Bus strike causes disruption in Kingston

10:16am Friday 22nd June 2012 in News By Tom Barnes

Bus strike causes disruption in Kingston

Commuters face disruption today as bus workers strike in a dispute over an Olympic bonus.

According to union members all but “one or two” London United buses at Tolworth and Fulwell bus garages have been cancelled in Kingston, a claim not disputed by a spokesman for TfL.

They want the £500 bonus to be paid to all drivers but Mayor Boris Johnson said cash will be paid only to companies with extra passengers for the Games.

Union bosses have criticised the move and said the offer does not take into consideration people will visiting attractions in other parts of London.

Unite representative in South West London, Alan Duncan apologised to passengers but said drivers had to take action as they were being ignored.

He said: “No matter what Boris Johnson said bus drivers in this part of London are getting nothing.

“Nobody wanted this and we are really sorry for the people struggling to get to work but nobody is talking to us.

“He thinks that it will only be bus drivers near the games site that will face extra work but Kingston has the cycle race and there will be tourist coming to Hampton Court and Kew Gardens.

“Train drivers are getting the bonus but we bus drivers in South West London have just been forgotten about.” Mr Johnson said he was “saddened, disappointed and enormously frustrated” that a deal could not be done with unite members.

He said: “Despite brokering £8.3 million of funding, union leaders and the private bus companies have failed to reach agreement, and as a result it looks likely that Londoners will face unnecessary and needless disruption."

But Epsom Coaches confirmed that all of their services are running today, despite the 24 hour strike from union members.

A spokesman for the company said: “All services in Kingston are running as normal today.

"We are glad to help people go about their normally day despite the strike.”

Services running: 406- from Kingston to Epsom via Tolworth, 411- Kingston to West Molesey via Hampton Court, 418- from Kingston to Epsom via Tolworth and Chessington, X26- Croydon to Heathrow via Kingston and New Malden, K5 Ham to Morden via Kingston, Norbiton and New Malden.

Do you support the strike? Contact Tom Barnes on 0208 744 4255 or email tbarnes@london.newsquest.co.uk or leave a comment below.