MORE THAN I00 RMT guards, revenue-protection inspectors and retail staff at 'One' railway in north Essex are to strike on August 18 and 20 after voting by a massive margin for action against the unfair dismissal of a guard.

Guards based at Colchester and Clacton, revenue-protection inspectors based at Colchester and retail members between Chelmsford and Manningtree voted by 83 to one to strike.

The union, which is in dispute over the sacking of guard Paul Yarwood and the company's failure to support other members involved in an incident with a fare evader on June 7 at Colchester North station, has now also called a company-wide ballot.

"The anger of our members over this issue should now be quite clear to One management," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"Our members are furious that the company has failed to support staff who were left to deal with an abusive fare-evader who refused to stop smoking on a train, assaulted a platform supervisor and threatened a passenger and other staff.

"The company's decision to sack one loyal member of staff and suspend two others stunned their colleagues and left them feeling betrayed.

"Paul Yarwood should never have been sacked in the first place, but if the company wants to win back the trust of its workforce it must start by re-instating him and confirming that there will be no further disciplinary action in this matter.

"Our members face the prospect of assault and abuse daily, and the least they should be able to expect is support from their employers.

"The RMT executive has responded to the magnificent vote for action by calling two days of strike action, and has today also agreed to ballot the entire One workforce over the crucial issues involved," Bob Crow said.