Strikes on buses in Dartford & Kent as services cut
Workers at Arriva buses in Kent are on strike for a number of days as the company launches further service cuts.
Cuts from this week have also been made across a number of routes.
Industrial action will be taken on 6,7, 10 and 11 of October.
A proposed strike in London of Arriva workers was cancelled after staff secured a pay rise of 11 per cent.
Arriva have also offered staff in other areas pay rises such as 11.1 per cent in Hertfordshire and by 10.4 per cent in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Kent staff were offered six per cent.
For sale – then not
Arriva is owned by Deutsche Bahn and have long seemed to lack any sort of long term plan for bus services, especially in Kent.
They placed the company up for sale then halted. Little long term investment is seen, with many buses pretty long in the tooth.
They also operate Fastrack services which is set to see new electric buses – but only with taxpayers stumping up sizable amounts.
Pandemic related issues clearly weigh on the industry, though in Kent it’s been an ailing services for some years.
Also unlike London, buses are deregulated ensuring private companies only need run profitable routes with no cross-subsidy for others that serve a public good.
Public funds are supposed to pay for those, while not enjoying the income from those routes that run at a profit.
