Rail workers call for strikes after Easter

LONDON, March 26 (UPI) -- British railway workers, angered over job losses and changes in work practices, called a strike for April 6, threatening to disrupt Easter vacation travel.

Four days of scheduled work stoppages against Network Rail were announced by signalers, maintenance workers and supervisors, The Times of London reported Friday.

The workers said they would conduct two 4-hour stoppages at rush hours on the days of the strike -- one from 6 a.m. to10 a.m. and the other from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said a rail strike is in "nobody's interest."

Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis called for a return to negotiations, the Times said.

"Both sides should seek to resolve this dispute by negotiation and not confrontation, and I am urging them to do so," Adonis said.

An aide said Adonis would not get involved in the dispute between a private company and the unions.