Selfish unions

At the Trades Union Congress conference this week (your report, 15 September) there has been the usual scenario where union leaders, in an attempt to justify their good salaries and perks, encourage the proposal for their members to go on strike.

Not exactly a novel idea, as the general hard-working independent citizens and the elderly have always had to observe the eventual disruption to the UK.

The unions always blame the government but, ironically, it is not politicians who are directly affected by the eventual impact.

For the conference proposal to be implemented, particularly when there are apparently two and a half million people unemployed, these unions and their public service members who are employed are not showing proper consideration.

Of course there is nothing new with proposed strike action, which has been observed for decades in this country, but it will always have to be resolved with sensible negotiation, so why not avoid the delay, find a sensible approach and cut out the union middle man?

Harry Lawrie

Abbots Mill

Kirkcaldy

In setting the date for proposed nationwide strikes, it seems that UK trade union bosses are as ignorant of Scotland as the Tory government is.

In January 2007, the St Andrew’s Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act was given royal assent, making 30 November a public holiday in Scotland.

Janice Thompson

Walter Scott Avenue

Edinburgh