Bus operators have been warned to ensure that all staff are paid the London Living Wage after a Unite union investigation revealed that some some trainee drivers were being underpaid.
Payment of the London Living Wage, currently £9.75 an hour, is a condition of the firms’ contracts with Transport for London but the union has discovered that some firms are failing to live up to their obligations.
City Hall says “several hundred” trainees are likely to be affected and that Mayor Sadiq Khan was “furious” to learn that firms have been underpaying.
Both Mr Khan and TfL have warned operators to “immediately” ensure all staff are being paid the correct rate.
Mayor Khan, said: “I’m absolutely furious if even a single trainee bus driver is still being paid below London’s Living Wage.
“We’ve worked hard to ensure drivers are treated fairly and get the pay they deserve, so to hear that any company may have broken their contractual obligations is completely unacceptable.
“I thank the Unite union for helping to bring this to my attention and I expect this to be put right immediately.”
Claire Mann, TfL’s Director of Bus Service Delivery & Operations, said: “Payment of the London Living Wage (LLW) has been a contractual requirement for all bus companies operating in London for some time.
“We expect the LLW to be paid to all of their staff, including trainee bus drivers.
“We have contacted all of the companies involved to remind them of this and seek urgent clarification that this is being adhered to.”
Last year Mr Khan unveiled a package of measures aimed at ensuring bus drivers receive fair starting pay and can more easily move between operators without loss of benefits.
