Train guards to hold strike vote in pay dispute

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said its members would vote from next week on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action in a row over the introduction of automated ticket barriers.

The union said that commission from the collection of on-board fares had fallen, leaving guards "seriously out of pocket".

General secretary Bob Crow said: "Our members have made it clear that the loss of earnings arising from automation on East Coast is totally unacceptable and they are not prepared to see the position of the guard undermined to the point where these key staff are reduced to become amongst the lowest-paid guards in the country."