Bus passengers in west London are bracing for several days of service interruptions as over 350 drivers and engineers engage in strike action.

Workers at London Transit plan to strike on December 12, 15, 22, 23, and 24 after turning down the most recent pay proposal from the company’s parent organization, First Bus London. Services on the impacted routes are expected to be severely limited or completely suspended.

Members of the Unite trade union are dissatisfied with the proposed agreement, which they argue creates a new, lower-paying entry-level position for drivers.

First Bus London expressed disappointment over the rejection of its revised pay proposal but indicated that additional discussions with the union are forthcoming.

The affected routes include those departing from Westbourne Park, such as the 13, 23, 31, N31, 218, 295, and 452.

All other bus services, in addition to Tube and rail options, will continue to operate as scheduled, although they may experience higher passenger volumes than normal.

Transport for London (TfL) has recommended that passengers make advance plans for their journeys.

Earlier, the same Unite union members participated in strike actions on November 14, 17, and 18.

In a statement, Callum Rochford, the regional officer, noted, “Our members perform an extremely challenging job, from driving buses during peak hours in London to ensuring they remain operational. Yet their employer is attempting to undercut them with the introduction of new pay grades.

“Workers will not accept this. London Transit must return to negotiations, act responsibly, and resolve this dispute immediately.”

In response, First Bus London stated, “We have scheduled further discussions with Unite and are hopeful that through constructive dialogue, we can reach an agreement and put an end to the ongoing disruptions, which are causing inconvenience for passengers and financial losses for our staff.”