London 2012: Offer to avert bus strike over Games bonuses

Bus companies have increased their offer to employees as part of talks to avert a threatened bus strike in a row over Olympic bonuses.

The BBC understands bus companies have offered £583 to drivers working 24 of the 29 days that the Games are on, or £700 for drivers in affected garages.

Transport for London (TfL) says it will split extra revenue from the Games with bus companies to pay employees.

Unite wants £500 for each of its 21,000 members for working during the Games.

It is meeting representatives of bus companies at conciliation service Acas.

The TfL offer would see any additional bus fare revenue split 50:50 with bus operating companies, on the condition it is passed on to bus staff following the Games.

It has offered to have the amount of additional bus fare revenue generated during the Games independently verified.

TfL's managing director for surface transport, Leon Daniels, said: "The offer of additional funds from the bus operating companies and a share of any additional bus fare revenue generated during the Games means there is no justification for further strike action.

"Should Unite insist that the total sum available is offered to all employees at bus operators across London, then this would mean a payment of £583 for every employee of every bus company.

"Unite should call off their strike action planned for tomorrow and put this very fair offer to their members."

Members of the union went on strike last month and are planning a second 24-hour walkout on Thursday.

Unite argues that, as other transport workers are being paid bonuses, the treatment of bus drivers has been unfair.

It is also planning on holding a strike on 24 July, days before the Games begin.

As well as demanding the bonus, the union is also holding out for an extra £100 for every day workers go on strike.

TfL said the strikes were not necessary and said an extra £8.3m had been offered by the mayor but the union had failed to put any offers to its members.

Three firms - London General, Arriva the Shires, and Metroline - obtained a High Court injunction preventing their employees joining the strike on 22 June.

Union members from these companies are not allowed to take part in any further strikes as the legitimacy of the ballot has been questioned in court, however a new vote is to be held next month which could mean that members would be allowed to take part in the 24 July strike.