CONDUCTORS have voted overwhelmingly to bring much of North Yorkshire's rail network to a standstill.
More than 93 per cent of members who voted have backed a threat of industrial action proposed by the National Union of Rail and Maritime Workers against Arriva Trains Northern.
A strike, in protest over pay, could now take place within days if Arriva bosses refuse to back down.
A total of 429 conductors voted in favour of strike action, with only 28 voting against. The turnout, 457 out of a total of 625, was 73.12 per cent.
Conductors are furious that while drivers have been given large pay and bonus deals, reported at more than 17 per cent, they have only been offered around four per cent.
Pay talks aimed at averting the threat of industrial action broke down before Christmas, a decision which led to the ballot.
An Arriva conductor, who asked not to be named, said: "We don't want to inconvenience people but we have been pushed so far that we have no choice. This contempt is reflected in the ballot result."
Updated: 15:47 Tuesday, January 08, 2002
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