Strike action could take place next month

The Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) accused Network Rail of refusing to hold meetings to resolve the issue.

If the 400 workers vote for strike action it could take place at the end of February, causing disruption for tens of thousands of passengers.

Network Rail said: "We hope any strike can be averted. Should it go ahead, we will try to ensure minimum disruption."

The union says the company failed to honour a 35-hour week agreement which settled a national dispute last year.

General secretary Bob Crow said there had been a flood of complaints from his members in Scotland.

Mr Crow said: "More than 70% of new rosters have now been agreed across Britain, but in Scotland signallers are not being allowed to bank the hours that should entitle them to six extra rest days a year.

We are particularly disappointed that the prospect of a strike has been raised before the mechanisms to resolve issues amicably have been exhausted Network Rail statement

"Our members are also complaining that there is also widespread abuse of rostering agreements, particularly over the cancellation and rescheduling of safety briefings.

"It is bad enough that managers are attempting to change agreed rosters unilaterally, but threatening to discipline members who rightly stick to their booked terms is simply unacceptable."

He said the company had avoided meeting the union to discuss the dispute, which left the RMT with "no choice" but to ballot its members.

In a statement, Network Rail said: "We have had no official advice from the RMT on their plans to ballot members in Scotland and were very surprised to see their news release.

"We are particularly disappointed that the prospect of a strike has been raised before the mechanisms to resolve issues amicably have been exhausted.

"All the allegations raised in the RMT's press release are already on the agenda for a joint meeting scheduled to take place next week.