Significance of picket solidarity for Labour

I can understand the frustration of justice committee convener Bill Aitken and Taxpayers' Alliance spokesman Matthew Elliott that what they saw as essential business was postponed. But respect for the feelings and cultural attitudes of the Labour MSPs and others who stayed away should be a factor too.

The Public and Commercial Services Union is not affiliated to the Labour Party. But there has always been a deep revulsion among Labour activists and representatives about the idea of crossing a picket line.

It may be based on old-fashioned, class-conscious attitudes. It may show that they are prepared to put their own feelings above their responsibility to the voters.

But it is a tradition which ought to be respected, if only because it shows a respect and understanding for the problems of those in dispute.

I'm sure essential constituency business was transacted away from the parliament building on Tuesday.

Concern about disruption to the work of the parliament has to be balanced against the bad feeling which might have been caused had MSPs chosen to work as normal.

BOB TAYLOR

Shiel Court

Glenrothes

The fact that many Labour MSPs didn't cross the picket line at Holyrood speaks volumes about their attitude to the debt crisis. The civil servants were apparently protesting about their redundancy being cut, by Westminster Labour, from three years' salary to two years.

Can anyone now seriously believe that a future Labour Holyrood administration would even countenance realistic public sector "savings" – never mind implement these in the face of severe public sector union resistance?

RON MASSON

Fountainhall Road

Edinburgh