This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7180888.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Strike threatened at rail company Strike threatened at rail company
(20 minutes later)
Hundreds of guards and drivers at rail operator First Great Western have voted to go on strike, a union has said. Hundreds of guards and drivers at rail operator First Great Western have voted to go on strike.
The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said relations had broken down and its executive will consider whether to call strikes over the dispute. The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said relations with the company had broken down over issues such as managers driving and guarding trains.
Part of the union's concerns are about whether managers have received enough training to drive and guard trains. First Great Western (FGW) said it was disappointed and that it would ask the union to "keep talking".
First Great Western (FGW) had previously said it was working with the unions to resolve issues. FGW runs services out of London's Paddington Station to the West Country and South West of England.
A full statement is expected later. "We are very open to finding a realistic solution to issues the RMT raises," a spokesman said.
Services criticised He said the company did use managers to crew trains on a Sunday as a "last resort" as FGW was a commercial operation working seven days a week.
The train company runs services to and from London's Paddington Station to the West Country and South West of England, carrying some 60,000 passengers every day. Members have made it quite clear what they think of First Great Western's style of management Bob Crow, RMT
"The RMT believe guards can choose not to attend on Sundays... the decision to keep services going because staff are unavailable is only taken when all other possibilities have been exhausted.
"We will not compromise safety," he added.
"RMT members have today made quite clear what they think of First Great Western's confrontational style of management," said the RMT's general secretary Bob Crow."RMT members have today made quite clear what they think of First Great Western's confrontational style of management," said the RMT's general secretary Bob Crow.
"The votes reflect the anger that our members feel at the company's behaviour, and if it wants to avoid industrial action it should begin to deal sensibly with the range of issues involved and stop the routine use of managers to guard and drive trains.""The votes reflect the anger that our members feel at the company's behaviour, and if it wants to avoid industrial action it should begin to deal sensibly with the range of issues involved and stop the routine use of managers to guard and drive trains."
Services criticised
FGW recently increased its unregulated fares by about 6%, saying its costs had gone up and it needed the money for investment.FGW recently increased its unregulated fares by about 6%, saying its costs had gone up and it needed the money for investment.
But its service levels have been criticised recently, with watchdog London TravelWatch calling for the company to be stripped of its franchise.But its service levels have been criticised recently, with watchdog London TravelWatch calling for the company to be stripped of its franchise.
Last year, about 2,000 passengers refused to pay their fares for a day between Bristol and Bath in protest at the state of services.Last year, about 2,000 passengers refused to pay their fares for a day between Bristol and Bath in protest at the state of services.
And complaints about a revamped timetable and overcrowding were also reported.And complaints about a revamped timetable and overcrowding were also reported.
A passenger group is due to meet soon to discuss a possible boycott of services.A passenger group is due to meet soon to discuss a possible boycott of services.
A meeting between the RMT and FGW is planned for Friday.