Sadiq Khan vows action to protect London bus drivers after heatwave misery

Photo: Collected

The Mayor of London has vowed to update regulations meant to protect the rights of the capital’s bus drivers as he admitted that current legislation “isn’t fit for purpose”.

Sir Sadiq Khan said it was important to recognise the conditions that frontline workers across the city have to work in, especially in scorching temperatures.

He cited the lack of regulations around extreme heat for workers, including the non-existence of a maximum temperature in which bus drivers can operate in.

In recent weeks reports have emerged around bus drivers suffering in their sweltering cabins when on shift in the recent spate of heatwaves, including one who claimed he had his pay docked for refusing to drive a vehicle without proper air cooling.

City Hall is yet to respond to a motion unanimously passed by the London Assembly last month which called for a Bus Driver Bill of Rights to help improve working conditions.

Earlier today the Mayor refused to commit to supporting specific legislation to protect London bus drivers, instead suggesting there should be a Bill of Rights for all frontline staff across the capital and beyond.

“One of the most important issues is how our frontline workers are treated during things like an extreme heatwave,” Sir Sadiq told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

“It is really important that we thank frontline workers like our bus drivers, but also recognise the challenges that they are facing in terms of being in a greenhouse, driving dozens of passengers, potentially suffering from fatigue.

“And so I’ve instructed TfL to make sure that work really closely with bus operators, they work incredibly closely with Unite the union, work really closely with bus drivers to make sure, not only are our buses fit for purpose, but the regulations and legislation is fit for purpose.”

In the past, TfL officials and the Mayor have said that such demands are already covered in current legislation.

However, almost 30,000 people have so far signed a petition calling on City Hall to change their stance and ensure guarantees on temperature, fatigue, toilet access and other basic rights are written into TfL contracts with bus operators.

“There should be a Bill of Rights generally for workers,” the Mayor commented.

“Bus drivers are one of the many categories of frontline workers who are struggling with the current extreme heatwave.

“And so it’s really important to look at all bus drivers, all workers who are suffering because of the extreme heatwave.”