IT is a great shame that once again, council staff are in the firing line over sickness levels (Bolton Evening News, Thursday, March 10).

This is despite the fact that in recent years sickness levels have continued to fall.

Exaggerated claims that sickness costs £10 million should be taken with a pinch of salt. All council staff know that the majority of absences are left uncovered.

Council unions already work with personnel and occupational health staff to support people back into work where possible.

This work should be valued and strengthened not privatised.

Unfortunately I was quoted as implying that sickness was somehow linked to the age and gender of staff. This is incorrect and not the point that I was trying to make.

The fact is that in any large workforce there are lots of varied and genuine reasons why some people will need to take sick leave. Bolton Council already has detailed policies in place to address this.

There are other areas within Bolton MBC which could be looked at. I would suggest that the vast sums of money currently being spent on an army of private consultants across the Council and the amount currently being spent on agency staff to cover job vacancies (£1 million in Social Services alone over the last year).

Martin Challender

Branch Secretary

UNISON Bolton Metro Branch