Hundreds of staff at train operator Avanti West Coast are set to be balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay, conditions and job security.
Rail union TSSA is behind the move, with ballot papers set to be sent out on June 15.
If approved by members, a strike could take place as early as July 13.
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TSSA said it was the first ballot for industrial action it has launched in an escalating dispute across the railway.
The union has collective bargaining rights for all station and revenue protection staff at Avanti West Coast, and for managers with salaries of less than around £35,000. It also represents other managers at the company.
TSSA said it is demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for 2022, no unagreed changes to terms and conditions, and a pay increase which reflects the rising cost of living.
Members are being asked to cast two votes: one on strike action, another on action short of strike. TSSA is balloting 300 members.
TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "Avanti West Coast needs to come to the table to face the concerns of their staff and tell their paymasters in government that widespread rail disruption is on the cards.
"Avanti West Coast staff are asking for some basic fair treatment: not to be sacked from their jobs; a fair pay rise in the face of a cost-of-living-crisis; and no race to the bottom on terms and conditions.
"We could be seeing a Summer of discontent across our railways. Make no mistake, we are preparing for all options, including coordinated strike action. And if our members go out on strike in Avanti, the trains will stop running.
"With data showing that retail sales are falling as the Tories cost of living crisis bites, unless wages start keeping pace with inflation, a Sunak-made recession looms large."
Avanti operates passenger train services and stations including from London Euston to Birmingham, Crewe, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.
