Rail company South Central has denied union claims it is bringing in private security guards to take the place of ticket collectors.
The Rail Maritime and Transport workers' union (RMT) is balloting its members on strike action over the use of agency staff.
Seventy have been employed across the South Central network, mostly for security duties at busy stations, such as Brighton and Worthing.
In a statement the company, which runs services between London and Sussex and along the South Coast, said: "We are disappointed the RMT has felt the need to ballot for industrial action.
"This comes at a time when South Central is spending more money than ever to improve the conditions of its front-line staff.
"Most importantly, over the past year we have substantially increased the number of permanent staff employed in all the areas the RMT accuses us of wanting to casualise.
"Revenue protection staff have worked closely with our contracted security company for the past two years with no detriment to their pay or conditions."
Monday April 26, 2004
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