TRAINS operated by York-based Northern Rail could be hit by a strike in a dispute over its use of agency staff to tackle fare dodgers.

The RMT union is balloting its members for strike action, claiming the work should be carried out by its members employed directly within the company.

Such action would affect trains from York to destinations including Harrogate, Leeds, Selby, Hull, Sheffield and Blackpool.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow claimed there was a cynical drive by the company to use casual, agency staff to undermine job security, pay and working conditions.

“Our members are furious that not only have the company refused to stop this practice but they are driving it forwards,” he said.

“RMT has made it crystal clear that casualisation and a breach of our agreements are an outright attack on all of us and will not be accepted in any way, shape or form. This union will not allow Northern management to carry on with these practices which are divisive, exploitative and solely about maximising profits.

“With talks going nowhere, the only way our members can show their determination to stop agency and sub-contractors Trainpeople.co.uk and G4S Security from carrying out core railway work is by voting YES in the ballot for strike action.”

Northern Rail said it contracted ‘revenue protection work’ at stations to two organisations, one of which had been undertaking these duties for 13 years, since before the Northern franchise began.

“The other was introduced on a trial basis in 2012, with a commitment to review progress with the RMT in May this year,” said a spokeswoman.

“Their staff carry out revenue protection duties at stations, ensuring that passengers have a valid ticket.”

The firm’s HR director Adrian Thompson said the RMT had demanded that Northern either sacked or employed the 260 people employed on the contracts.

“The RMT is claiming that Northern is gradually replacing employees with ‘agency staff’ a claim that is completely unfounded and untrue,” he said.

“We do not want to put these people out of work. These contracts carry out a vital role, ensuring that passengers have valid tickets and those fares are fully captured to reinvest into building a better railway.”

The ballot opens next Tuesday (May 7) and closed on May 20, and the earliest possible date is Monday May 27.