Commuters can expect further disruption to their daily travel in the next few weeks as London bus drivers announce strike action.

Bus drivers employed by Arriva will strike for several days with the first 24-hour strike taking place on Monday, March 21. 

It will be followed by another 48-hour strike scheduled from Monday, March 28. 

Drivers voted to strike over what they called a "pathetic" pay offer from Arriva, but if there is a breakthrough or new agreement during talks, the strikes could be called off. 

Nearly 1,000 drivers who are members of the Unite union will strike from depots across London including Brixton, Croydon, Norwood and Thornton Heath.

Passengers are being told to expect every bus route operating from any of these depots to be severely impacted.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Arriva’s pay offer is pathetic and it is an insult to bus drivers who continued to work throughout the pandemic risking their health to ensure London could continue to function. Our bus drivers at Arriva will have Unite’s full support until the company makes a realistic pay offer and this dispute is resolved.”

The company has offered workers a pay rise of 1.5% - a figure which Unite claims is actually a pay cut when compared to the current level of inflation, 7.8%.

The vote for strike action saw 95% of drivers agree that action was needed over pay.