The Unite trade union has accused transport bosses in London of hypocrisy as they are refusing to give bus drivers a bonus for working while the Olympics is on. The union claims that they themselves face large rewards for making sure that transport in the capital runs smoothly. Unite is asking bus companies to pay an extra £500 to members if they turn up to work during the event.

According to Unite the demand is in line with the rewards being given to other transport workers over the period. London’s regional secretary of the union, Peter Kavanagh, said it was wrong that high earning transport bosses were looking at large performance based bonuses but refusing to offer a deal to the workers.

He added that 90 per cent of Unite’s members had voted to engage in industrial action in protest of not being awarded the pay increase. The union said that a last chance for a deal was being given to transport chiefs before a decision on strike dates was made.

Transport for London’s director of surface transport Leon Daniels said that it was inaccurate of Unite to accuse transport chiefs of being in line for bonuses during the Olympic Games. He added that because drivers were employed by private bus firms they needed to take up any argument over pay with their company heads.

He went on to say that it was disappointing that Unite insists in causing disruption during such an important event for the UK.