MORE THAN I00 RMT guards, revenue-protection inspectors and retail staff at 'One' railway in north Essex will strike on Saturday (August 18) and Monday (August 20) in support of an unfairly dismissed colleague, after voting by a massive margin for action.

The dispute is set to escalate as the union's 800 members at 'One' have begun voting in a ballot over the sacking of guard Paul Yarwood and the company's failure to support others involved in an incident with a fare evader on June 7 at Colchester North station. The ballot will close on August 29.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow will join the picket line at Colchester Station from 07:00 on Saturday, and will be available for interview. A picket line will also be mounted at Clacton station.

"There is massive and growing anger among our members at 'One' over the company's total failure to support its own staff, and I am confident that our members will return a massive vote for strike action across the company," Bob Crow said today.

"Our members are furious that a guard with an exemplary record has been dismissed over an incident involving an abusive fare evader who refused to stop smoking, assaulted a platform supervisor and threatened a passenger and other staff.

"Rail workers face the threat of verbal and physical assault every day, yet 'One' has not only failed to put in place systems that provide adequate protection and support, but has effectively turned its back on staff when they most needed that support.

"If 'One' wants to earn the trust of its workforce it must start by re-instating Paul Yarwood.

"It is our members who have asked for a ballot across the entire company, and rather than waste time and effort in trying to face them down, the company should start working with them to put adequate protection and genuine support in place," Bob Crow said.

See also:

Rail staff to strike over sacking

BBC News: 16 August 2007

Guards on services between London and Essex will strike

More than 100 rail guards will strike for 24 hours on Saturday and Monday in support of a sacked colleague.

Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members at One Railways will walk out.

Picket lines will also be mounted at stations between London and Essex, including Colchester and Clacton, a union spokesman said.

The union will also ballot 800 more staff for further strikes over the sacking of a guard following an incident with a fare evader in June.

Union general secretary Bob Crow said: "Our members are furious that a guard with an exemplary record has been dismissed over an incident involving an abusive fare evader who refused to stop smoking, assaulted a platform supervisor and threatened a passenger and other staff."

The company said the strikes will involve workers based at locations between Clacton, Manningtree and Chelmsford.

One said it expects to operate a full timetabled service on these days despite the industrial action.