Bus drivers demand £500 for Olympics
London bus drivers were today accused of holding passengers to ransom as they threatened to strike during next summer's Olympic Games unless they get a £500 bonus.
The 28,000 staff claim they need the money just for turning up to work - because their buses will be so busy.
But Boris Johnson today accused transport workers of money-grabbing and asked their Unite union to back down. The claim would slap a £14 million bill on passengers and taxpayers. It is the latest of several demands - totalling nearly £30 million - by transport staff to work during the three-week Games.
The Mayor branded Tube and bus drivers as "chiselling". He said: "It is incredible that people are using their positions to
lever more money out of London's transport budget. I don't think it is reasonable."
On the bonus claim by bus drivers he said: "I don't support it. There is no extra burden I can see."
Unite, the country's largest union, has written to all London's bus operators demanding the £500 payments.
Its London regional secretary Peter Kavanagh accused the Mayor's office of "washing its hands" of any responsibility for the claim. "If this situation continues we can't rule out industrial action," he said.
"This union is asking for an extra £500, which has already been agreed for some rail workers." Mr Kavanagh denied claims that bus workers are holding London to ransom.
He said an extra 800,000 passengers are expected on buses during the Olympics, meaning staff will be working far harder, with "significantly increased revenue" for Transport for London.
"We are just looking for a fair share," he said. Bus drivers earn an average of £24,000 - among the lowest rates for transport workers in London, added Mr Kavanagh. But Esher & Walton MP Dominic Raab said: "Militant union chiefs are treating the Olympics as a golden opportunity to hold commuters and taxpayers to ransom."
Deals for extra pay to transport staff during the Games include: £1,200 each for 3,200 Tube drivers, £1,000 for 1,000 London Overground employees and £500 for 800 Network Rail staff.
The total bill for all claims so far is more than £27 million.
