London commuters are set to be hit by rail disruption after Southern Rail staff voted to strike.
The ballot of Rail, Maritime and Transport union members returned a 70 per cent majority in favour of a walkout over a “comprehensive breakdown” in industrial relations.
The dispute is over issues including staffing and rosters, which the union claims are causing disruption to services.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “This is a vital and lucrative franchise where commuters pay thousands of pounds a year to travel on services that are chronically understaffed and RMT members have had enough of it.
“This union will not sit back while staffing levels are pared to the bone on rail franchises and our members run ragged solely in the interests of private company profits.
“RMT remains available for further talks and we hope that in light of this ballot result the company will now see sense.”
The union’s executive will now consider the next move and will have to give seven days’ notice of any proposed strike action.
Southern runs some of the busiest commuter services in the country, including route into London Victoria.
A Southern spokesman said: "We have worked really hard to solve this with the union. We have made them a proposal which they are thinking about, and we wait to hear from them."
Additional reporting by Press Association.
