TRAINS from York to cities such as Sheffield, Birmingham and Bristol are set to be disrupted by a month of industrial action over pay and working conditions.

The RMT union said that members working for Arriva Cross Country would take action “short of a strike” from next Monday until Wednesday, September 2.

A spokesman said the action would include a total ban on litter-picking on trains, overtime working, or volunteering for rest day working and Sunday working, except for booked Sundays.

He said members had voted by four-to-one for action earlier this month on a turnout of 55 per cent.

General secretary Bob Crow accused Arriva of taking a “divisive approach”.

He said: “This action is aimed at forcing the company back to the table to negotiate a fair deal for all staff.”

The company said the overtime ban would affect managers and catering staff, but it did not believe it would have a significant effect on services.

A spokeswoman said the RMT had been attempting to re-negotiate a two-year pay agreement that was signed by the union with CrossCountry in August 2008 and was scheduled to run until April 1, 2010. “We are prepared to consider demands to raise pay over and above the agreed pay rate implemented in April 2009 if the RMT can agree on changes in working arrangements that will fund the increase,” she said.