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September 19: Union strike demands at odds with reality

September 19: Union strike demands at odds with reality

Today’s letters to The Courier.

Sir, At the Trade Unions Conference there have been the usual scenario where union leaders, in an attempt to justify their well-paid salaries and perks, encourage the proposal for their members to go on strike.

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

As is usual 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 during a period where 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 at this time.

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

Harry Lawrie.35 Abbots Mill, Kirkcaldy.Drivers suffer double delaySir, On the day that the A91 closed at Eden Bridge, with the ensuing chaos for drivers that this caused, I find it amazing that on travelling to Cupar from Glenrothes, on the only main route still open, I found that BT had seen fit to erect a traffic light-controlled roadwork on the A914 at the Kings-kettle cemetery, Annfield junctions causing still more misery for drivers trying to get to Cupar.

Someone must be responsible for planning these things and it is a triumph of their task to achieve chaos on two main routes in Fife on the same day. You really couldn’t make it up.

John Strachan.23 Beechwood Avenue,Glenrothes.Euro crisis was predictableSir, Struan Stevenson MEP is right that Greece should be thrown out the eurozone. However he should take Socrates’ advice and follow the argument where it leads.

Firstly, Greece is not the only state that should leave. It is in the individual national interests of each of the other PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain)to leave. Each of them would revive their national economy by de-coupling from the euro, devaluing and defaulting on their euro debts.

The alternative is further bailouts of the French and German banks that hold the sovereign debt of the PIGS, which will only put off the inevitable.

Secondly, and more fundamentally, why were these states allowed to join the eurozone without their economies converging?

The answer is, of course, that the euro was always a political project. Europe’s political and bureaucratic elite saw it as merely a step on the way to a United States of Europe.

Indeed, the very crisis that we now face was anticipated, and intended to lead from monetary union to fiscal union.

Thirdly, what should the British government do? Well it would be a good start if we stopped throwing good money after bad into bailouts.

Otto Inglis.Ansonhill,Crossgates.Falling into the same old trapSir, I find it ironic that Otto Inglis falls into the trap stereotypically associated with nationalists; namely, appealing to romantic and rose-tinted views of the past for political ends.

Notwithstanding the obvious omissions in the narrative (such as the squandering of our oil wealth by Westminster on wars and tax cuts for the wealthy), it was, however, the first ‘positive’ narrative I had heard for the union.

However, whenever it may come, I hope that my fellow Scots join me in voting for the future rather than the past and choose to re-assert our status as an independent nation over staying in a union no longer fit for purpose.

Gary Cocker.9 Highfield Place,Birkhill.Outrageous to deny the obviousSir, I write to correct the statement made by the university spokesman about the impact of turbines on the West Sands.

If he looks at the visual-isation in their own Environmental Statement he will see the blades of three turbines and partial visibility of two, a bit more than the extreme tip of one blade. His denial of the impact is outrageous.

St Andrews Links is the most renowned golfing landscape in the world. It is the Home of Golf, the place where the game began and has been developed and nurtured over six centuries.

SNH have a stututory role to protect landscape of national and international importance and the setting of St Andrews and the Links must qualify. Looking at the topography of the links I am quite sure moving blades above the spires and rooftops of St Andrews would be visible and would certainly not be an added attraction to the visual amenity of the courses.

SNH have said they have significant concerns about visual impacts on St Andrews.

They go on to say “the development will detract from the historic significance of the nationally-important medieval skyline; will adversely affect the landscape setting of internationally renowned St Andrews town and diminish the overall views and visual amenity of residents and national and international visitors to St Andrews and the Links”.

All good and supportable reasons for a robust objection from SNH.

Graham Lang.Coaltown of Callange, Ceres.

Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.