THE Isle of Wight Labour Party has shown its support for striking RMT members.

Labour parliamentary spokesperson, Julian Critchley, joined RMT members' picket line outside Ryde Esplanade station last week as part of the on-going dispute between the union and rail firms over passenger safety.

The strike by RMT members is designed to fight attempts by the company to remove guards from their trains.

An RMT spokesperson said "Our reasons for striking are purely for passenger safety. The guard doesn't just open and close the doors: they assist disabled passengers; they sell tickets; give information for onward travel; they assist the driver in the event of an emergency; they can evacuate the train; they assist unwell passengers; they keep passengers safe from drunk, abusive passengers; and they ensure the train operates to current safety requirements. All this is put at risk without a guard on board."

Mr Critchley said: "It's essential to show solidarity with the union members on this issue. Quite clearly our national rail network is in crisis."

Andy Mellors, managing director for South Western Railway, said the company had repeatedly guaranteed that no one will lose their job and that they would roster a second person on board every train.

He said: "However what we have been trying to talk to the RMT about is what happens if a Guard is unavailable at short notice, perhaps due to illness or disruption; and how we might keep passengers moving rather than leave them stranded."