The Arriva–Unite agreement lets around 1,500 London bus drivers return to depot after 35 minutes if cab temperatures are judged unacceptably hot or cold, down from one hour. The deal covers diesel and hybrid buses across eight depots and includes a commitment to fit improved air conditioning by next May. Unite paused 25 planned strike days but retained an 11‑month strike mandate and will push for similar protections nationwide.
London Bus Drivers Can Return After 35 Minutes If Cab Is Too Hot Or Cold — Arriva and Unite Agree
Drivers at London depots including Stamford Hill will benefit from the new rules after protests this summer - Guy Smallman/Getty Images
London bus drivers operating for Arriva will be able to stop driving and return to their depot after just 35 minutes if they judge the temperature inside their cab to be unacceptably hot or cold, under a new agreement with the Unite union.
What the Deal Means
The pact cuts the previous one-hour threshold to 35 minutes and applies during both cold spells and heatwaves. It covers roughly 1,500 drivers across eight North London depots and follows a series of walkouts this summer over extreme in-cab temperatures.
Key Terms
- Scope: Applies to diesel and hybrid buses across eight depots (Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green).
- Temperature Standard: The agreement does not specify exact temperature limits; it requires that cab temperatures be maintained at a "reasonable level."
- Air Conditioning Commitment: Arriva has pledged to install improved air-conditioning systems by next May.
- Checks and Repairs: Arriva North London will carry out bi-weekly checks on climate-control equipment and must repair faulty vehicles before they return to service.
- Strike Status: Unite called off 25 planned strike days after members accepted the deal but retained an 11-month strike mandate to hold Arriva to its commitments.
Voices From The Campaign
"This means drivers will no longer be expected to carry on and sweat it out," said Onay Kasab, a Unite national officer.
Unite had said some Arriva buses reached as high as 50C during heatwaves, blaming many vehicles' reliance on basic air-cooling rather than full air-conditioning. The industrial action was supported by Heat Strike, a splinter group from Extinction Rebellion, which has pushed for greater protections for workers affected by extreme temperatures.
Bus drivers walked out when heatwaves left them sweltering in their cabs this summer - REUTERS/Chris Radburn
Operational Details
An Arriva spokesman said the 35-minute rule will serve as a practical test to determine whether a bus's heating or cooling system is functioning correctly. If a vehicle returns to the depot for that reason, the driver would typically be reassigned to other duties rather than left idle.
Arriva also noted electric buses are less likely to be affected because they tend to have more effective heating and cooling systems.
Wider Debate
Campaigners from Heat Strike want ministers to set a national maximum working temperature of 30C (27C for manual jobs) and propose a furlough-style scheme allowing workers to stay home on full pay when conditions are unsafe. Labour reportedly considered a workplace temperature cap in its Employment Rights Act proposals following a TUC motion, but the legislation that proceeded did not include such a clause.
Unite says it will press for similar arrangements across the UK bus network and warned further industrial action could follow if operators fail to meet commitments. The agreement with Arriva aims to reduce disruption for passengers while addressing drivers' immediate safety and comfort concerns.
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