Hundreds of bus drivers at Westbourne Park garage walked out on strike today, marking a significant escalation in an industrial dispute that has already caused widespread disruption for passengers in West London. The strike is the latest in a series that has seen ongoing unrest among drivers over pay, conditions, and holiday entitlements.
Today’s industrial action is the first of twelve strike days announced for November, with union representatives warning that further walkouts are likely unless progress is made in talks with First Bus London, the company that operates routes from the Westbourne Park depot.
At the heart of the dispute is an unresolved issue over holiday pay. Drivers say they have been underpaid for up to three years and claim the company has yet to provide a clear timeline for reimbursement, despite acknowledging money is owed. “Drivers want to know when the money will actually be in their accounts,” a union source told London Bus Forums. “It has been kicked down the road long enough.”
Tensions rose further in September when management imposed a ban on overtime and rest days. Many drivers describe this as a punitive measure, arguing that similar action was not taken against colleagues at London United or other garages during previous disputes. Drivers estimate the ban is costing the garage between £8,000 and £10,000 in lost earnings and missed mileage payments each day, with reports of missed services and staff shortages across several routes.
The strike comes after an overwhelming rejection of a 3.7 percent pay offer, which union representatives say falls short of settlements reached at other depots, such as 4.4 percent at London United and 5.2 percent at London Sovereign. They maintain that, given current inflation and rising living costs, only an increase of six to seven percent would allow drivers’ pay to keep pace.
Concerns have also grown over the long term future of the Westbourne Park garage amid reports the company has posted multimillion pound losses. Some drivers fear that First Bus London may ultimately give up contracts or transfer routes back to Transport for London, following similar moves by other bus operators.
A spokesperson for Transport for London said:
“Strike action is expected to impact seven bus routes, however, the vast majority of London’s bus network will still operate as planned on these days. Some local bus routes may be busier than normal. We encourage customers who are affected to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys and check before they travel using TfL Journey Planner or the TfL Go app. We encourage both parties to find a solution to this dispute and we are sorry for any disruption to people’s journeys.”
Planned strike action by Unite members at First Bus London is affecting Westbourne Park Bus Garage and several key routes in southwest, west and northwest London on the following dates and times:
- 05:00 Friday 24 October to 05:00 Saturday 25 October
- 05:00 Monday 27 October to 05:00 Tuesday 28 October
- 05:00 Tuesday 4 November to 05:00 Friday 7 November
- 05:00 Friday 14 November to 05:00 Saturday 15 November
- 05:00 Monday 17 November to 05:00 Wednesday 19 November
- 05:00 Wednesday 26 November to 05:00 Saturday 29 November
The bus routes affected are 13, 23, 31, 218, 295, 452, and N31, serving west, northwest, and southwest London. Of these, the 13, 23, and 295 are 24 hour routes. During strike days, little or no service is expected on these routes.
All other bus routes, Tube, and rail services will run as normal but may be busier than usual. Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra journey time, and use alternative transport where possible. Further information, journey planning tools, and strike updates can be found at tfl.gov.uk/campaign/strikes
Update – Statement from First Bus London (25 October 2025):
A spokesperson for First Bus London said:
“We are disappointed that industrial action is continuing despite our above inflation pay offer with full back pay for all employees, which reflects the value we place on our people and our commitment to supporting them through the rising cost of living.
“We urge Unite to return to the table for meaningful discussions so we can reach a resolution and bring this ongoing disruption to an end. Continued strike action only causes unnecessary inconvenience for passengers and loss of earnings for our employees.”
Passengers now face continued uncertainty, with more strikes set to disrupt travel through November. Both management and union representatives are under pressure to find a solution before the dispute causes lasting damage to services and staff morale.
