Strikes signalled in Scotland

RMT union members at the West of Scotland signalling centre have voted to strike by almost 80 percent. The dispute is over management unilaterally dropping longstanding promotion practices for staff.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, described the ballot result as an “overwhelming mandate for action”.

The union is giving management a final chance to resolve the dispute before deciding its next steps.

Meanwhile, balloting continues at Wightlink Ferries in Portsmouth.

Ferry workers in the RMT are angry that their rep, Paul Kelly, has been sacked in what the union calls a “blatant example of victimisation”.