ALIENATING the travelling public is certainly not the best way for the firefighters to gain support in their claim for a 40 per cent wage increase.

Quite the reverse. The hundreds of thousands of passengers whose Christmas holiday will be interrupted will take a long time to forgive and forget this trade union for such an irresponsible claim.

If this claim were to be conceded, the snowball effect would begin and the consequences and effect on the economy would be catastrophic. The increase in the cost of living would go through the roof. Pensioners, who have to buy in the same markets, would be hard hit, taxes would increase, as would mortgage payments. Council tax would also increase, unless the firefighters' dream that money grows on trees comes true.

Left wing socialist politics is dead as far as I am concerned; Progressive Labour would be a more apt name for the Labour Party. So throw away the cloth caps. The working class with their very good standard of living, illustrated by the level of home ownership, have never been better off. I say to the firemfighters' union: accept the offer on the table now and negotiate. Don't take it out on your fellow workers by striking.

Mr J Holding

Stocks Park Drive

Horwich, Bolton