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Network Rail staff vote to strike | Network Rail staff vote to strike |
(20 minutes later) | |
Network Rail workers in Scotland and Cumbria have voted to strike in two separate rows over bonuses. | Network Rail workers in Scotland and Cumbria have voted to strike in two separate rows over bonuses. |
The Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said the action followed disputes involving more than 500 staff. | The Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said the action followed disputes involving more than 500 staff. |
They include 119 maintenance workers in Cumbria who had their £400 bonuses withheld following a crash in Grayrigg near Kendal in February. | They include 119 maintenance workers in Cumbria who had their £400 bonuses withheld following a crash in Grayrigg near Kendal in February. |
Network Rail said the strikes were "wholly unnecessary" and would cause disruption for passengers. | |
The second row involves 400 signallers in Scotland, whose bonuses were docked after they took strike action in March over new shift patterns. | |
Crash investigation | |
A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We are disappointed the RMT is taking this approach which is so wholly unnecessary and will only cause disruption to passengers. | |
"Those who took strike action in Scotland had a clear understanding at the time that their discretionary bonus would be at risk so it can hardly be surprising that their bonuses were affected. | |
"It would also be inappropriate to pay a bonus to the maintenance workers in Lancashire and Cumbria before the investigation into what happened at Grayrigg has been completed. | |
"This does not mean that they won't get it, just that we can't pre-empt the investigation in any way." | |
The RMT warned that walkouts could spread nationwide and be co-ordinated with strikes by postal workers who are also taking action over pay. | The RMT warned that walkouts could spread nationwide and be co-ordinated with strikes by postal workers who are also taking action over pay. |
The Scottish train staff voted by 186 to 116 to strike, a majority of 62%, while those based around Grayrigg backed action by 184 to 37, a majority of 83%. | The Scottish train staff voted by 186 to 116 to strike, a majority of 62%, while those based around Grayrigg backed action by 184 to 37, a majority of 83%. |
An 84-year-old woman died when the London to Glasgow Virgin Pendolino train derailed. |