Collective action on working time

Despite the legal protections under the WTR, several groups of workers have used collective action to protest against being forced to work long hours and difficult working patterns.

For example, in February 2020 London bus workers who are members of the Unite general union voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a consultative ballot. The dispute is branded the “sick and tired” campaign and concerns long hours, fatigue and exhaustion that bus drivers were experiencing due to poor scheduling of shifts, a lack of rest breaks and decent facilities for breaks, late finishing, a lack of running time and not being treated with respect.