Virgin East Coast staff vote to strike

RAIL workers for Virgin East Coast have voted to strike in a dispute over job cuts, working conditions and safety.

The RMT union said five out of six (84%) of those who voted in the ballot backed walkouts and the union said its leaders will now consider their next move, the BBC reported.

Destinations on the line include Hull, London, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Virgin Trains said it would run a full timetable during any strike action.

The union’s general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT will not sit back while nearly 200 members’ jobs are under threat and also conditions and safety are put at risk.”

David Horne, managing director for Virgin Trains on the east coast, said: “With our guarantees that there will be no compulsory redundancies, no impact on safety and a full timetable in place during any action, we urge the RMT not to call a strike which will cost its members pay for no reason, and to rejoin us around the negotiating table.”