WORKERS at South West Trains are to take industrial action during the Olympics in a row over a Games bonus payment.


Up to 1,000 members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union at South West Trains will work to rule, including a ban on overtime, from Friday, the day of the opening ceremony, to August 12, the last day of the Games.


It will affect all trains from London to Weymouth which are expected to carry thousands of passengers to the Olympic sailing events.


Union members at the firm last week rejected going on strike but voted for other forms of action.


The union has been seeking a bonus for its members for working during the Games, but SWT insisted it had already agreed a wage deal which covers the Olympics period.


Union members working on the London bike hire scheme will strike for 48 hours from Friday morning in a similar row.


Hundreds of RMT members employed by Transport for London will also go on strike over the first weekend of the Games after failing to secure a deal over a bonus.


RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: ''Although we have secured good deals on Olympics recognition and reward for the vast majority of our members we still have a small number of employers holding out and refusing to offer either a fair deal or any kind of deal at all.


''We cannot accept that blatant unfairness and the time has come for these employers to seize the opportunity, get round the table and sign off agreements that recognise the additional work and pressures that these staff will be carrying.''

South West Trains said that it will run a full service during the Games despite the overtime ban announced today by the RMT union.


A spokesman for SWT said: “A significant pay increase of 4.75% was agreed by the union four months ago, which covered the arrangements for the London 2012 Games. 
“However, the RMT has attempted to renege on this deal and secure a further Olympics bonus. In a ballot which closed last week, RMT members rejected strike action over the issue. “

Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of South West Trains, said:  "It is disappointing the RMT seems intent on trying to disrupt services at such an important time for our customers and the country. Their attempts to renege on the deal they agreed have gone down badly with the public and RMT members also voted against strike action over this issue. Despite the RMT action announced today, we can confirm we will be running a full service for our passengers during the Games so they can get to and from the London 2012 events."