I am trying to make sense of the Echo Comment on the civil service dispute (Jan 3).

It said: "The scale of the proposed job cuts is so great you would hardly expect the unions not to make a stand".

With 344 possible job cuts in Southend, Shoebury and Basildon I'm sure most people would agree - yet the Echo urged union members not to vote for a strike.

However hard union officials fight, employees must have the right to strike, otherwise when all else fails what sanction is left?

I would also point out that when jobs are lost so is the pension scheme, so do not be surprised if the public service workers do all in their power, including strike action, to prevent these cuts.

We have seen MPs voting terms and conditions of employment for themselves that ordinary people can only dream about and six-figure bonuses paid to directors of companies.

Good luck to them, but I'm of the opinion that public service workers, in all areas, play a much more important role in maintaining our quality of life than the people who have decided to sack them.

I support the public service workers in their fight, up to and including strike action.

Keith Watson
Ashurst Avenue
Southend