London bus drivers go on strike

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LONDON, June 22 (UPI) -- London bus drivers staged a 24-hour strike Friday in a dispute involving proposed Olympics bonuses, disrupting travel on numerous routes.

Members of Unite, the largest union in Great Britain, refused to work in the disagreement related to a 500-pound ($785.06) bonus, BBC reported. About 85 percent of London bus drivers are members of Unite and the walkout affect 17 of 20 bus companies.

"I can only conclude that this strike is being driven by hard-line trades union militancy and a desire to have a strike for political purposes," London Mayor Boris Johnson said.

"Unite have pursued this unnecessary course of action despite an extra 8.3 million pounds ($13,031,914) being brokered by the mayor," Transport for London commissioner Peter Hendy said.