Bus drivers to strike over Olympic bonus The bus drivers, who last staged a London-wide strike in 1992. are claiming awards similar to those awarded to other transport workers who are set to receive bonuses ranging from £500, in the case of Nework Rail to £1,200 for some staff at Heathrow. Unite has also been angered by proposals to pay senior staff at Transport for London bonuses worth £80,000. Bus services in London are run by 20 different bus operators, including Go Ahead, Stagecoach, London United, Arriva, Metroline, First and Abellio. A ballot of 20,000 bus workers saw overwhelming support for a strike, according to a Unite spokesman. "London buses will come to a standstill for the first time in a generation across London on 22 June," said Peter Kavanagh, Unite's regional secretary for London. The blame lies squarely with the bus operators and TfL. The bus companies haven't met with Unite once to discuss bus workers' extra contribution to the Olympic Games and TfL has refused to intervene. This dispute could be resolved at a stroke but if the bus companies and TfL continue to do nothing Unite will call further strikes up to and during the Olympic Games. The bonuses paid to tube workers reflect the decision by London Underground to run services into the early hours of the morning. According to Transport for London the "vast majority" of bus drivers will work their normal shifts and their routes will be unaltered. This was disputed by a Unite spokesman justified the demand saying that drivers will have to handle an additional 800,000 passengers during the Games. In addition route changes were likely to see drivers working longer hours without being paid overtime. "I sincerely hope the bus strike doesn't take place," said Norman Baker, the local transport minister. Whatever the merits of the case, disrupting the Olympics is hardly the way to gain public support. Leon Daniels, TfL's Managing Director of Surface Transport, added: "We remain clear that this is a matter that must be resolved between the private bus operating companies and the bus workers they employ and we urge both parties to seek a resolution as soon as possible. Everyone wants a successful Olympic Games this summer and this action is the wrong approach at a time when London is preparing to welcome visitors from around the world to the capital.