Union chiefs are to ballot for possible strike action on trains to and from Nottingham (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/04/nottingham_trains_strike_threa.html#more

About 150 senior conductors will be asked whether to strike or take other industrial action, following a row over Sunday shift cover.

If a strike goes ahead, it would hit local services from Nottingham but would not affect trains to London.

The row started when East Midlands Trains told the RMT it was planning to ask managers to provide emergency cover on senior conductor shifts on Sundays.

A number of Sunday services had to be cancelled because of a lack of senior conductors - who are responsible for the safety of the train and passengers.

East Midlands Trains, which took over the franchise from Central Trains in November last year, has a voluntary arrangement for covering Sundays.

And with no cash incentive, many senior conductors were choosing not to work.

The ballot is understood to involve a total of 150 senior conductors - including about 110 based in Nottingham.

It could be up to five weeks before any industrial action comes into effect.

East Midlands Trains said it was "very disappointed" about the ballot.

The company said it had already enhanced Sunday payments for senior conductors to encourage volunteers.

More than 130 RMT senior conductors at EMT are to strike on the first three Saturdays in May over a breakdown in industrial relations with the company (link below.)
http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=105073

After voting for both strike action and action short of strike, the senior conductors will not book on for shifts that commence between a minute after midnight and 23:59 on May 3, 10 and 17.

More in the link below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7439529.stm

Rail travel in the East Midlands has been disrupted due to a lack of drivers, rail bosses have said (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7503245.stm

The train drivers' union ASLEF has called a branch meeting in Nottingham which means not enough drivers are available for work.

The mainline Nottingham to London service has not been affected.

East Midlands Trains depends on train drivers volunteering to work overtime to operate the service. The union was unavailable for comment.

The move is not considered industrial action, but the train firm said it was "bitterly disappointed" by the shortage of drivers.

Tim Shoveller, EMT managing director, said he believed the move was linked to a train driver who was recently dismissed for an unrelated matter.

East Midlands Trains apologised for the inconvenience and said a full service would run between Derby and Crewe, but reduced services would run between Lincoln and Nottingham.

Other services will be served by a combination of train and bus services.