Virgin ticket staff set to strike

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Virgin Trains ticket office staff are set to strike, it has been announced.

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association members will stage the walkouts at 14 mainline stations between London Euston and Glasgow in January.

The union's leader, Gerry Doherty, said his members were striking to defend their jobs and the booking windows service offered to passengers.

More than 200 Virgin booking office staff along the West Coast line voted in favour of industrial action.

The strike will affect Euston, Watford, Milton Keynes, Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow.

Mr Doherty said Virgin was the latest privately-owned rail company to "cut back on customer services to boost their bottom line during the recession".

He added that passengers on the line would face long queues "if management get away with these latest cutbacks".

Mr Doherty said the union was delaying the strike action to prevent disruption being caused to holiday travel over the festive break.

The union leader also said the timing gave management a chance to reopen negotiations on plans which the union fears will lead to a 10% cut in booking office jobs.