London bus strike: Walkout suspended after new pay offer

Bus drivers based at depots in south London were due to strike for 24 hours, affecting routes across the capital

A planned 24-hour strike by more than 1,000 London bus drivers has been suspended following a new pay offer.

The walkout on 21 March would have disrupted services run by the Arriva group in central and south London.

The Unite union said after last-minute negotiations, the industrial action would be suspended so members can be balloted on the new deal.

But it said if members reject it, a 24-hour strike planned for 28 March will still go ahead.

According to Unite, Arriva initially offered drivers a "pathetic" 1.5% pay increase.

The union said it it amounted to a "sizeable pay cut", due to the current rate of inflation.

Arriva London said the suspension of the planned action was "good news" for its customers and that it was committed to "finding a way forward".

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