Bus drivers operating services across London, including many through the Richmond borough, are to stage a series of strikes.

As well as disrupting links to the local rail stations, schools and town centres, a number of through services to Heathrow Airport will be halted.

Members of Unite employed by Abellio in south and west London will take 10 days of action in the run-up to Christmas.

The effected Abellio services run across the Richmond, Twickenham and Teddington area, with some on routes through to Kingston.

They include the heavily used R68 and R70. Also on the list are the H20, H25, H26, the 490 and 969, the 267 and 285, the 111.

It was announced today – Thursday – that the strikes are set for November 22, 25, and 26; and then on December 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17.

The union said the company had not made an offer on pay even though an increase is due in January.

advertisement

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Abellio is a vastly wealthy multinational company that could and should be paying its workers a fair pay increase.

"With workers struggling to cope with rampant inflation, Abellio's failure to even enter into meaningful pay talks is cold-hearted and callous.

"Unite is now entirely focused on defending and enhancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the bus drivers at Abellio will be receiving the union's complete support."