RAIL union RMT t is to ballot nearly 1,400 members on Virgin East Coast over the sacking of a colleague dismissed after a Kindle went missing on a train.

The employee lost his customer service job in Edinburgh after what the union called "a deeply flawed disciplinary matter" after the device went missing from a train he was working on.

RMT said it was in no doubt that the disciplinary process was compromised because:

• The original investigation into the missing item was flawed as not every member of staff on duty was interviewed.

• The CCTV “evidence” was inconclusive and has, in any case, been destroyed.

• The Lost Property Procedure was put into the minutes after the investigation took place and was not produced at the meeting and was admitted by management to be out of date in any case.

• The only grounds for the members dismissal was on “probability” which we is entirely subjective and a get-out for management when they have no concrete evidence to produce.

Strike ballot voting papers will be sent to all onboard catering, guards, station and ticket office staff on Monday. The ballot will close on October 27.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “This flawed dismissal is a gross injustice based on no evidence whatsoever and should be overturned immediately. This union will not sit back while our members are fitted up and dealt with in this disgraceful fashion.

“We have no option but to begin balloting across Virgin East Coast from Monday for both strike action and action short of a strike. The union remains available for talks.”

A spokesman for Virgin Trains said: “We’re disappointed by the announcement of a ballot by the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) as negotiations with them are still ongoing.

"We do not believe action is necessary and continue to discuss this issue with the union to avoid any disruption to customers.”