RAIL workers and nurses in the south west will be taking further industrial action next month.

Train staff on Great Western Railway will join colleagues from 14 other rail operating companies in the strikes organised by the RMT union.

These have been announced on February 1 and 4 with RMT members at 14 rail companies involved.

Also next month, nurses who are members of the Royal College of Nursing at Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust along with colleagues in Plymouth and Exeter, will be taking strike action.

The RCN strikes, which began last month, are the first in the union’s history.

The ongoing dispute is over pay and improved patient safety.

South West Ambulance Service staff will also go on strike.

The health unions action is planned for February 6 and 7.

The ongoing strikes in rail services are in dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

The decision to strike on February 1 coincides with a TUC day of action where several unions will be co-ordinating their strikes during the cost of living crisis.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘Our negotiations will continue with the rail operators to create a package on jobs, conditions and pay that can be offered to our members.’

The RMT wants a pay offer reflecting the rising cost of living and a guarantee of no compulsory job losses.

The latest rail strike dates come after bosses at the ASLEF union rejected a pay offer to drivers from rail companies of four per cent for two years earlier this month.

But the pay deal hinged on several changes to working practices.

ASLEF members will be striking on the same days.

The union said the proposal was ‘not and could not ever be acceptable'.

Its general secretary Mick Whelan said the union was open to further talks.

Aslef members have staged action on six previous occasions, causing huge disruption to services, with some operators unable to run any trains.