WORKERS at First Great Western have voted to go on strike in a dispute over jobs and safety.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at the company backed walkouts by 80%, and other forms of action by 92%.

The union is in dispute over the introduction of new trains after seeking assurances over jobs, buffet car facilities and maintenance.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT has made every effort to secure a series of very basic assurances from FGW over jobs, services and safety as a result of the introduction of the new Hitachi fleet and they have simply ignored us.

"We therefore had no option but to ballot all staff for action to force the company to take this issue seriously and the members have now voted decisively for action. That mandate will now be considered by the union.

"It is frankly ludicrous that East Coast, who are introducing the same trains, have given us the assurances we are seeking but FGW have ignored us and are crashing ahead with the ripping out of buffet cars and the threat to safety-critical station and train staff purely to maximise the profits from new trains bought for them by the British taxpayer.

"RMT remains available for talks and we expect the company to now take this dispute, and the issues at the heart of it, seriously."