Hundreds of train conductors at Southern Rail, which runs services to south east London including Beckenham, Sydenham and Brockley, are to be balloted for strikes in a dispute over industrial relations and staffing levels.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Southern Rail will vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.

The union claimed there had been a "comprehensive breakdown" in industrial relations, leading to staff shortages.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The staffing shortages on Southern are a disgrace. This is a vital and lucrative franchise where commuters pay thousands of pounds a year to travel on services that are chronically under-staffed and RMT members have had enough of it.

"We have no option now but to ballot for action in the run-up to Christmas. This union will not sit back while staffing levels are pared to the bone and our members run ragged solely in the interests of private company profits.

"We will be explaining to the travelling public, who are also the victims of this corner-cutting policy, why we are being forced down this road and we will be asking them to assist us in putting pressure on the company. RMT remains available for talks."

TOP STORIES

The ballot, for strikes and other forms of industrial action, will open next week and close on December 15. The union will have to give seven days notice of any action.

A Southern spokesman said: "We refute there has been a breakdown in industrial relations. We have been talking to the union about its aspirations regarding terms and conditions, and have made some suggestions about how these might be achieved. Unfortunately, the RMT believes we should meet its demands in full.

"We are making every effort to resolve this issue with the RMT to avoid the unnecessary disruption it would cause our passengers should the ballot lead to industrial action."