A TRAIN boss today blasted union chiefs for picking strike dates which, he claims, suit them and not the commuter.

Euan Cameron, managing director of Arriva Trains, attacked the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) after it announced plans for ten new strikes.

He accused the union of choosing dates which it knew would "adversely affect users".

The new dates, announced last Thursday, include a number of high-profile sporting occasions and public holidays.

The RMT plans to hold 24-hour-disputes on John Smith's Cup Day at York Racecourse on July 13, the first day of the Commonwealth Games on July 25 and on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Mr Cameron challenged the union to hold a ballot of its members to see if they were still happy with the prospect of another six months of industrial action.

He said: "The union insists it does not want its strikes to impact on customers. Yet it continues to pick days that will adversely affect users, on days when people will travel and at important times of year.

"We offered four per cent. The RMT has written to conductors saying 'if you accept Arriva's offer you will regret it for the rest of your railway employment'.

"No one should be put under that sort of pressure. We need a ballot. You can't expect these people, who had no intention of going out on strike, to carry on.

"We have offered to go to ACAS and we have got to try and make progress. For us to sit back and say 'it doesn't matter' is not acceptable. Our customers demand that we do everything possible."

Conductors, station and clerical staff are striking in a protest over pay and conditions.

Conductors, in particular, are said to be angry at pay and conditions given to drivers which were not offered to them.

Stan Herschel, York RMT organiser, said: "Unfortunately, to pick days that don't impact on the customer would not have any impact on the company.

"The strikes will still go on. We have the moral high ground and right on our side."

Updated: 11:50 Tuesday, June 25, 2002