The rail union vote had a turnout of 71 per cent, with 77 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. The action centres on a dispute over jobs and cuts that the RMT says will endanger staff out on the tracks. General Secretary Bob Crow is quoted by the union website as saying:
Nobody should be under any illusions about just how determined RMT members are to win our fight against Network Rail's cuts programme and to stop this reckless gamble with rail safety.
The RMT will consider the results of the ballot next Thursday 25th March, and will call a strike if a resolution cannot be reached with Network Rail. The union claims that the Office of Rail Regulation shares its concerns over the cutbacks, and points to the statement of transport minister Sadiq Khan that it would be 'unwise to shed jobs when there is good news around the corner'.
The news follows the 11th March vote by Network Rail maintenance staff when 77 per cent were in favour of strikes over job cuts and safety implications.
