Sir Ken accused of strike hypocrisy

A Union chief who publicly condemned the industrial action on South West Trains was embarrassed today when his own members demanded to hold a strike ballot in the same dispute.

Now an inter-union row has broken out with Sir Ken Jackson, joint secretary of Amicus, which includes the old AEEU engineering union, accused of "breathtaking hypocrisy".

Sir Ken, writing in the Evening Standard two days ago, condemned both the RMT union, which ordered the strikes on SWT and the management. He wrote: "The RMT tells us that they believe in public services. So is this carry-on really bloody necessary?"

Calling for the RMT to "let go the throat of the travelling public", Sir Ken added: "A strike only proves who is strongest. Not who is right." Amicus has just 17 members employed by SWT, mainly engineers. But they are now demanding a ballot for industrial action in the row over pay parity which has already caused two 48-hour stoppages and with another to come.

The ballot will now take place, involving the strenuous task of 17 votes, assuming all take part, between 16 January and 23 January. A spokesman for Sir Ken tried to play down the situation. He said the members would probably not vote to take part in the strike action.

A senior source at the RMT, which has lodged an official complaint about Sir Ken's comments, said: "It is totally unbelievable. He condemns us publicly while his own members are demanding a ballot to take part in the same dispute."