Strike threat dropped after in-fighting

UNION bosses have dropped a long-running campaign of industrial action over plans to operate "driver-only" trains on the new Airdrie-Bathgate line amid suggestions of an internal row.

Around 40 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Workers' union have reportedly signed an open letter accusing leaders of abandoning their interests in favour of "an exercise in political grandstanding".

The revolt comes after Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, led calls for Britain's trade unions to mount a series of strikes in response to proposed government cuts.

In the open letter, conductors reportedly said: "A cause that was originally to save our grade has become an exercise in political grandstanding by certain upper echelons of the union."

Ian Macintyre, the Scottish regional organiser for the RMT, denied that the letter had led to the strike being wound down, calling it a "non-event".