More than 40,000 railway workers will start voting on Tuesday on whether to strike in disputes over jobs and pay. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said a yes vote among its members could lead to the biggest rail strike in modern history.
The union said Network Rail is planning to cut at least 2,500 safety-critical maintenance jobs as part of a £2 billion reduction in spending, while workers at train operators have been subject to pay freezes and changes to their terms and conditions.
The ballot closes on May 24, so strike action could begin in June. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our ballot of 40,000 staff is a vital step in defending jobs, pay, conditions and safety standards on the railways.
