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Another rail union has joined the RMT in voting for National Strike action over the Easter holidays. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association, who represent mainly white collar workers are balloting 2,000 members over National Rail's maintenance job cut "massacre". 1,500 posts are set to be axed as part of NR's modernisation programmed, mostly through voluntary redundancy, the firm claimed. Yesterday the Rail Maritime and Transport Union announced 77% of its members who took part in the ballot backed strikes, with 89% supporting action short of a strike. Early Easter, the traditional maintenance work period, has been targeted, supervisors in maintenance workshops and depots across the country will now take part in a national strike. No strike dates will be announced before next Friday, when the RMT will announce the result of a ballot among NR signal workers. A NR spokesman said: "There is still time for the RMT to come to its senses and resolve this dispute in a responsible manner. Our contingency plans to manage any industrial action are at an advanced stage and we will do all we can to minimise any disruption." TSSA leader Gerry Doherty said: "It is not too late for Network Rail to listen to its workforce and the rail regulator, who said last week that their proposed changes could endanger safety. The regulator warned Iain Coucher (NR chief executive) not to impose change on the workforce but consult with them instead. He should drop his macho management style and start serious discussions with us to solve this problem." Talks between union leaders and NR will be held next Thursday in an attempt to resolve the dispute. The NR spokesman added: "The way the railway is maintained and operated needs to change. Work practices that date back to the steam age should no longer have a place on a modern railway."
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