More than 1,500 bus drivers, including workers based at Arriva garages in Grays and Barking, are set to resume strike action next week after rejecting an offer aimed at resolving concerns over working in hot weather.
Unite said industrial action involving Arriva North London drivers was paused between August 19 and 21 while negotiations took place between the union and the bus operator.
However, union members have now voted against a revised offer, which Unite said did not go far enough to address conditions in driver cabs during periods of high temperatures.
The union claims many Arriva North London buses use air-cooling systems rather than air conditioning, with the systems said to reduce cab temperatures by only two or three degrees during recent heatwaves.
Unite said temperatures in some driver cabs can reach 40C or above, placing drivers at risk of fatigue, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “London bus drivers do a vital job, but are putting themselves at risk due to these appalling conditions.
“Arriva can fully afford to make meaningful changes our members can accept.
“Until that happens, strike action will continue and our members at Arriva North London will continue to have the full backing of Unite.”
Drivers at eight garages are involved in the dispute: Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green.
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The fresh walkouts are due to take place from Tuesday, August 25, until August 28.
Further strike dates have been announced for September and October.
They are:
September 4 and 5
September 7 and 8
September 18 and 19
September 21 and 22
October 2 and 3
October 5 and 6
October 16 and 17
October 19 and 20
Previous action on August 14 and August 18 led to delays and cancellations on more than 40 bus routes across London, Unite said.
Some of the planned strike dates are also expected to coincide with Piccadilly line closures during August and September, potentially increasing pressure on public transport services.
Unite regional officer Steven Stockwell said: “There is still time for Arriva to stop this disruptive action, but it relies on it coming back to the table with a deal our members believe will solve the serious problems with conditions once and for all.”
Wasim Mohammed, Arriva London's Managing Director, said: “We are disappointed by the outcome of Friday's ballot, in which Unite members in a minority of garages voted to continue with further strike action.
"This is despite an agreement that resolved every demand raised by the union and was subsequently taken by union officials to all their members across North London.
“Only three of our eight garages rejected the proposals. However, as the ballot was assessed across London North as a whole, the volume of votes cast in two of these garages was sufficient to determine the overall outcome, despite a majority of garages voting in favour.
"This result means that the jointly developed action plan has not yet secured the support required to bring this dispute to a close, and as a result, any further strike action could affect eight London North garages.
“We remain keen to resolve this dispute. Having reached agreement with Unite officials on every issue raised during negotiations, we want to better understand the concerns that remain among drivers and any additional measures they believe would help address them, so that discussions can continue constructively on finding practical solutions that support our colleagues while minimising disruption for Londoners.
“The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers will always be our highest priority. Periods of extreme heat continue to present challenges across many sectors, including London's bus network. We are part of the extreme weather taskforce, established by Transport for London, where Unite officials, TfL and bus operators are working together at pace to establish commonly agreed solutions to the weather challenges we are facing.
"Meaningful progress is being made through this taskforce, and we are confident this will deliver improvements for bus drivers.”
