ESSEX commuters could face major disruption after a union voted in favour of the first national railway strike in two decades.

Members of the RMT union have voted in favour of industrial action as part of an ongoing dispute with Network Rail over pay.

Any strike action would be likely to bring both the c2c and Greater Anglia lines to a complete standstill as signal workers across the rail network are RMT members.

The union claims Network Rail’s current pay proposals fall short of what is required to maintain workers’ living standards.

A £500 lump payment this year, followed by pay increases in line with inflation in 2016, 2017 and 2018, have been offered to staff.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members have decisively rejected the pay package offered by Network Rail.

“As far as we are concerned the one off, non-consolidated, lump-sum payment this year is wholly inadequate and fails to recognise the massive pressures staff are working under to keep services running at a time when the company is generating profits of £1billion.”

“Our rail staff deserve a fair reward for the high-pressure, safety-critical work that they undertake day and night.”

The union states it is available for talks if an improved pay offer is made.

Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne claims staff have received pay rises eight times higher than other public sector workers in the last four years.

He added: “The railways are a vital public service and industrial action would have a massive impact on millions of passengers as well as freight distribution across Britain.

“It cannot be right that the unions can hold the country to ransom in this way.

“Despite the very clear need to modernise our railways, we have offered a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for the next two years.

“We will do everything we can to keep our railways moving during these times of uncertainty.”

The RMT executive will now decide on the next steps the union will take in the dispute.