Air conditioning will be installed in all London bus driver cabs by May 2027 following an agreement between Transport for London (TfL), bus operators and Unite the union.
The commitment was reached through an extreme weather taskforce, established to address working conditions for bus drivers during periods of high temperatures.
Most London buses currently use air-cooling systems that draw in outside air and circulate it around the cab. Unite said these systems can reduce temperatures by only around two or three degrees during heatwaves, with temperatures inside some driver cabs reaching 50°C this summer.
The union said drivers had reported issues including dehydration, fatigue and heatstroke, with some stopping services because they were unable to continue working in the conditions.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:Inadequate cooling systems in buses have left bus drivers having to endure appalling conditions this summer.
This concession from TfL is an important win in Unite’s campaign to improve conditions for bus drivers in London and beyond.
Unite will continue to fight for all bus workers to be kept safe and to be treated with dignity and respect.
Alongside air conditioning, driver cabs will be fitted with UV-protective film to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
The measures follow negotiations between Unite, TfL, London bus operators and the Greater London Authority over hot-weather working conditions.
Unite regional officer Nadine Edwards said:Unite is pleased that there is finally a commitment for meaningful change and it is the culmination of a lot of hard work and campaigning by drivers.
However, after years of false promises from the bus companies and TfL, Unite will ensure these changes are actually implemented in the timeframe that has been agreed. We will not allow bus drivers to suffer through another hot summer.
