Homes and Property | Home PageVictoria rail route commuters face New Year strikesCommuters at Victoria face more disruption with strikesDick Murray|Transport Correspondent12 April 2012Commuters on mainline routes into Victoria station face strike action as they return from the Christmas break.The RMT union today announced a ballot among members on operator Southern - which includes the Brighton line.Union bosses want extra leave for working on 28 December, a bank holiday because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday. Southern has refused the demand.The ballot will close on 21 December and the strike could begin on 28 December.RMT leader Bob Crow said: "Southern should be recognising the hard work of their staff over the year by offering a gesture of goodwill over the festive season."■ RMT leaders today staged a demonstration over 1,500 jobs losses outside a Network Rail meeting at the Langham Hotel, Regent Street.MORE ABOUTBob CrowOrangeRMT (trade Union)