Union to ballot rail conductors

The RMT's Bob Crow has called for talks to resolve the situation

A union is planning to ballot 100 rail conductors in Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire over claims staff are being forced into working on Sundays.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union said its members at London Midland depots at Bletchley, Northampton and Watford Junction were affected.

It said the conductors would vote over the next few weeks on whether to launch a campaign of action.

London Midland said it did not believe it was breaching any agreement.

The RMT accused the company of refusing to honour long-standing agreements that former Silverlink staff could opt out of working on Sundays.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "This issue has dragged on for far too long and it's time for the company to recognise that existing agreements should be observed and talk to us seriously in order to resolve the problem."

A London Midland spokesman said: "We do not believe we are in breach of the agreement the RMT ballot relates to.

"London Midland has continued to operate to the spirit of the agreements and contracts in place at the time of the transfer of colleagues from ex-Silverlink to London Midland.

"We are fully prepared to continue to engage in discussion to resolve all issues with the RMT."