By Patrick Hardie, Industrial Relations Editor

Rail Union RMT has today confirmed that they will be balloting it’s First ScotRail Ticket Examiner members based at Airdrie, Bathgate, Dalmuir, Glasgow Central (Argyle Line), Helensburgh Central, Motherwell and Partick for both strike action and action short of strike.

This is because two ticket examiners were sacked for defending themselves from attack by a gang who have waged a two year campaign of abuse and violence against them.

Not only were RMT members, Darren Brander and Karin McLean, verbally and physically assaulted at work but their assailants continued to harass them when they were off duty and even followed them home the RMT union said.

The Union continued and said that in June 2010, matters came to ahead when the gang assaulted and spat on Karin McLean. They also shouted “paedophile” and “child molester” at Darren Brander and threw a bottle at him in front of two small children who were accompanying them while they were off duty.

In the face of extreme aggression and provocation Darren and Karin fought back to defend not only themselves but the children they were with. The British Transport Police brought no charges against Brother Brander and Sister McLean; however Scotrail decided to dismiss these members based on this incident.

RMT is demanding the immediate reinstatement of Darren Brander and Karin McLean.

The ballot will begin tomorrow – 1st February.

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 Director’s 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 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.