Managers vote to join rail strikes

A leading rail firm faced the threat of widespread disruption today when managers voted to join other workers in going on strike in a worsening row over pay and conditions.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association announced that its members at National Express East Anglia had backed industrial action by three to one.

The managers will join members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union and Aslef in striking later this month unless the dispute is resolved.

TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty accused the company of a "high-handed" management style, adding: "We have had continued problems at East Anglia and on the East Coast line as the company has tried to drive down costs in its unsuccessful bid to hang on to the East Coast franchise.

"Our members are now saying they are no longer willing to pay the price for management failures with any more lost jobs or cuts in their conditions at work."

Services in and out of London's Liverpool Street station were severely restricted last week when workers went on strike for 48 hours, causing travel chaos for tens of thousands of commuters.

Talks aimed at resolving the dispute will be held later today.