Arriva bus engineers in Luton announce strike dates
Arriva bus engineers in Luton have announced strike dates after raising concerns over alleged workplace behaviour and the dismissal of a union representative. The dispute involves complaints linked to sexual harassment and assault allegations, with workers saying the response has fallen short. Arriva said it remains committed to resolving the issue and will work to minimise disruption to services.
Strike dates set as dispute escalates
The walkouts are set for April 27 to May 1, May 11 to May 15, and May 25 to May 29. The action centres on staff based mainly at the Dunstable Road depot, where Unite says workers are dissatisfied with how the complaints have been handled. The union says the concerns include unwanted physical contact, touching, inappropriate gestures and sexually explicit remarks.
Bedfordshire Police said a man in his 30s remains on bail while inquiries continue. Arriva said the original allegations involve a former manager whose employment ended after police were contacted. it takes matters of this nature extremely seriously, but could not comment further because of the police investigation.
Arriva and Unite trade blame
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the shop steward, who was “fired for speaking out, ” must be reinstated. Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said responsibility for any disruption lies with Arriva and called for the dispute to be resolved. Arriva said it was “wholly inaccurate” to suggest the employee was dismissed for involvement in raising what it described as a police matter.
Arriva also said employees are encouraged to raise concerns through the available channels and that management intervention and support are offered when issues arise. it was disappointed that members of its Luton engineering team are planning industrial action.
What the workers say happened
Staff have said the complaints were dismissed as “banter” and “horseplay, ” and that some workers, including young apprentices, reported unwanted touching, squeezing and striking. They also described being exposed to simulated sexual acts and gestures, along with offensive and sexually explicit remarks about close family members. Unite says some employees felt intimidated, mocked and humiliated while trying to raise concerns.
Arriva bus engineers in Luton are now moving toward industrial action while the police inquiry continues. Arriva says it will keep working to resolve the dispute and reduce the impact on customers and bus services. The next stage will depend on whether the talks can narrow the gap between Arriva and the workers behind the strike dates.
