Bus services across East London are set for severe disruption after more than 300 drivers at Stagecoach’s Bow garage announced a four day strike starting next Thursday, 19 March.
The industrial action, organised by Unite the Union, is expected to cause significant delays on seven major routes, including the 8, 25, 205, 425, and night buses N8, N25, and N205, which connect key areas of East London with Central London.
Update, 18 March 2026: A Unite spokesperson has confirmed to London Bus Forums that the planned strike action at Bow Bus Garage is still going ahead as scheduled.
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Why Bow Garage Drivers Are Taking Action
Drivers say they are being pushed to work excessively long shifts with inadequate breaks and sometimes have less than 10 hours between shifts. Unite has stated that drivers are regularly required to cover long distances without proper rest, creating concerns about the safety of both staff and passengers.
The looming strike has left thousands of commuters worried about how they will travel, with many already making alternative plans. “It’s chaos,” said commuter Sarah Miles at Bow Church. “I am worried about getting to work if the buses do not run next week. There are no easy options.”
Image © TfL
Unite maintains that the action is primarily about basic dignity and safety, not pay. The union is demanding guaranteed minimum breaks during shifts and longer rest periods between duties. “We want to get back to work, but we want to do it safely,” said a spokesperson for the drivers.
Although the current dispute centres on Bow garage, many drivers believe the problems are far more widespread. “This is not isolated to one depot or one company. It is a London wide issue across bus operators,” said one bus driver. “Fatigue, short breaks, long duties and reduced rest between shifts are concerns drivers have been raising for years. The reality is that many drivers feel these issues have been ignored for far too long and that Unite has fallen short when it comes to tackling the problem.”
Another driver described the daily pressures: “TfL need to think. A driver does an 11 hour shift, drives home, winds down, bed, up ready for work, preparing food as garages do not have canteens anymore, drives to work, there 30 minutes early because of parking, for 7 days on the bounce. How fatigued is that driver? It is a health and safety issue that clearly some bus companies are not prepared to manage so TfL should step in for the safety of public and drivers.”
Some drivers have pointed to the competitive tendering system and tough working patterns as root causes. “The main cause of this problem is the tendering process. Firms bidding and cutting costs to a minimum. TfL needs to be abolished and a company just for London needs to be brought back to run a service for the public, not the profit scale to pay millions to shareholders.”
Others compared their duties to those of other transport workers. “Seven days on, two days off, seven days on. In 16 days, two days off. We have a very responsible job, arguably more to deal with than a train or tube driver, and we work approximately twice the hours they do before a rest day. They do a flat 36 or 38 hours before a rest day.”
Some drivers have also voiced frustration with the union’s response. “It has been this way for decades. Unite know it is a London wide issue, so bringing out one garage is a disgrace,” said another driver. “Long hours on duty, short rest breaks, even shorter time to rest between duties, yes, it is true. Bus driver fatigue is well documented, it is a real problem. All London bus garages should be striking. Unite is a joke. They know the problem, they know the reality for years. They are the ones signing agreements that allows this to happen. How can they say something about it when they are part of the problem?”
Unite and Bow Garage Drivers Demand Change
Unite regional officer John Murphy said: “Our members are coming to work exhausted, and it’s simply not safe for them or for the passengers. We have repeatedly raised the issue of excessive hours and lack of proper breaks, but Stagecoach has failed to act. This strike is a last resort. All we are asking for is fair treatment and basic protections for our drivers.”
He added: “No bus driver should be expected to get behind the wheel when they have not had enough rest. This is about dignity at work and the safety of everyone who uses London’s buses.”
Transport for London (TfL) and Stagecoach say they are working to minimise disruption and keep essential services running where possible. TfL has urged passengers to check live travel updates and consider alternative routes. “We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers and are working with the operator to resolve the dispute,” a TfL spokesperson said.
The strike is scheduled to run from Thursday, 19 March, until Sunday, 22 March, unless a resolution is reached before then. Local businesses have already reported concerns about a drop in footfall, and schools along the affected routes have warned parents to allow extra time for journeys.
Fatigue among transport workers has become an increasingly prominent issue, with unions warning that tired drivers are more likely to make mistakes, putting both themselves and others at risk. The Bow garage strike is the latest in a series of industrial actions to hit London’s transport network this year.
Further talks between Unite and management are expected in the coming days.
To read more Transport for London news, click here.
And people wonder why there’s so many accidents. Plus the public hate us so that doesn’t help.