MARTIN Challender, of the Bolton TUC, suggests that we should all come out and support the unions against cuts to public services.

Well Mr Chandler, I am one of the private-sector workers at risk due to cut backs which may happen after the spending review in October.

However, I find your request to honest, hard-working men and women to support your militant action stomach churning.

Temporary amnesia by many in the Labour Party and the unions are all to quick to throw the blame for the countries predicament at the feet of the bankers, although acknowledging as the Governor of the Bank of England did that there were huge mistakes made in the banking industry, the main fault lies with the previous Government and in essence spending what it didn’t have.

All these fancy schools and hospitals are fine, but where does the money come from?

A generation has been spawned in this country that thinks it is the norm to live beyond their means.

And some businesses will even think nothing of going bankrupt at the drop of the hat and wiping their debt away.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are those that think it is the norm to sit at home on their lazy backsides and have everything given to them on a plate.

A report last week suggested that the majority of public-sector workers earn far more than those in the private sector, have better holidays and better pensions. I have had a 10 per cent wage drop over the past two years, but I am glad just to still have a job.

Most people with an ounce of common sense realise that cuts are needed. I remember the three-day weeks, power strikes, uncollected refuse piled high and the dead unable to be buried, again, a mess left by a Labour Government.

One good thing the unions did was to support Ed Miliband as Labour leader. Those on the opposite side of the house are laughing all the way to the ballot box.

Tony Grayson Breightmet