Strike threat over sacking of two ticket inspectors

TICKET inspectors are to be balloted on strike action over the sacking of two workers accused of gross misconduct.

Darren Brander and Karin McLean were sacked after an altercation with two women on a station platform that took place when they were off duty.

The RMT union claims the two rail employees acted in the face of “extreme aggression and provocation” and say the two females were part of a gang who had waged a “two-year campaign of abuse and violence”.

However, employer ScotRail disputes the union’s account of events and says it stands by the decision to dismiss the two workers, who it says acted in a way which fell below the standard of behaviour acceptable among its staff.

ScotRail said the pair’s actions were “unacceptable and inexcusable” and its investigation suggested the case was different to what was described by the union.

RMT said the two workers have been “verbally and physically assaulted at work”, “harassed” while off duty and followed home. A union spokesman said matters came to a head in June 2008 when the gang assaulted and spat on Ms McLean.

The pair reacted “in the face of extreme aggression and provocation”.

The union executive has instructed a ballot of all RMT ticket examiners in Airdrie, Bathgate, Dalmuir, Glasgow Central (Argyle Line), Helensburgh Central, Motherwell and Partick. The vote will begin tomorrow.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “This dispute on ScotRail is over the most blatant travesty of justice where two of our ticket examiner members have ended up sacked for simply defending themselves from a gang of thugs who have waged a two-year campaign of violence and intimidation against them both at work and right up to their own front doors.

“We are determined to secure justice for Karin and Darren.

“Following an appeal and a directors-level review of this case, Brother Brander and Sister McLean still remain dismissed.

“ScotRail have shown themselves to be totally unsympathetic and uncaring during the whole process and their only objective has been to get our members out of the door, even though they have been the victims of this crime. We have no option but to ballot as part of our campaign for justice for Karin and Darren.”

ScotRail said it stood by the summary dismissals on grounds of gross misconduct.

A spokesman said: “A full, proper and detailed investigation concluded that their conduct was unacceptable and inexcusable.

“It also concluded that their actions fell well below the standards we would expect of staff on company premises, whether on or off duty.”

ScotRail insisted it was “never made aware of a so-called campaign against the staff members” before the incident which led to their dismissal.

The spokesman added: “We do not take decisions to dismiss lightly.

“The facts identified by the detailed investigation are very different from those described by the union.

“We are disappointed at the union’s claims and the language used.”

The train operator also insisted passenger journeys will not be disrupted if industrial action is taken, because contingency plans for revenue collection would be put in place.