WITH regard to the York bus dispute, strikes do not produce results, only losers. The company loses revenue, the employees lose wages and the poor traveller caught in the middle loses patience and probably abandons what little good will he may have had.

I was once on holiday in Milan, Italy. There was a dispute between the local transport company and the drivers and conductors of the buses and trams.

The employees were "on strike" but adopted a very enlightened approach to their actions. They reported for work, drove the buses and trams, carried the passengers as usual, but collected no fares. Nor did they collect any wages.

Thus the only losers were those directly concerned with the dispute, namely the employees who worked for nothing and the company who still had to meet the cost of fuel.

The travelling public were not caught in the crossfire, as seems to be the case with the innocent by-standers to most modern disputes. I wonder if history could teach a lesson in the conduct of industrial relations.

PJ Bowman,

Ogleforth,

York.

...JUDGING by some of the comments in the Evening Press about the strike action by First drivers, it is obvious just how very much the people of York take their bus services for granted.

Bus drivers have to be able to afford to live in and around York too. They do a very responsible job and take a lot of uncalled for hassle off the very people who are taking them for granted.

Would I be correct in assuming that those who complain about the strike will never ever take any industrial action over their own pay claims should any arise?

Anyone who would be prepared to strike for the sake of their own pay has no right to sit in judgement on the bus drivers.

Dr Richard Greaves,

Morehall Close,

Rawcliffe, York.

...DOES the "angry student" from Stamford Bridge, who commented on the bus strike in the Evening Press ("Pay talks hope after bus strike", August 29) realise her life and other people's lives are in the care and skill of the bus drivers?

Just as their lives would be under a "brain surgeon's" care and skill. Would she tell the brain surgeon he was not worth the money?

My husband and many others take pride and care in their job, driving in every type of weather condition and traffic chaos. They try hard to give a good public service.

Mrs S Metcalfe,

Cromer Street,

Clifton, York.

...I SUPPORT the striking bus drivers but I do think a bus service should have been scheduled to take people to and from York Hospital.

The No 6, usually to and from the stop nearest the hospital, at the moment is diverted to run through Burton Stone Lane. But it was supposed to run on Saturday, August 23. However, I waited 45 minutes and no bus. Therefore I had to make my way into town to catch a bus to Rawcliffe.

Last Tuesday I attended the hospital at 3.30pm (having caught the No 5 bus and walked through Clarence Gardens). Coming from the hospital at 4pm I had to make my way back to town to get a bus home.

Come on you union men, don't sell these drivers down the line.

Mrs M Pierotti,

Melton Avenue, York.

Updated: 10:32 Monday, September 01, 2003