MY heart bleeds for the people named as Arriva trains dispute "scabs" (October 26).

Their "stand" is a wonderful metaphor for the lack of social solidarity in Britain today; where people think they can opt in and out whenever they want to and to hell with the consequences.

I am sure a few of them have refused to strike out of deeply-held convictions and are not in the trades union (though heaven knows why not).

However, there are others who will be in the union and have simply refused to go along with a democratic decision of a body which they chose to join but whose rules they are now breaking.

I guess all the scabs, non-strikers, blacklegs, strike-breakers whether in the RMT or not, will - in the spirit of their refusal to join the strike - also refuse to take any pay rise, bonuses and improved conditions won by the tireless, and not entirely painless, efforts of their striking colleagues.

Neil Sterio,

Secretary, York Branch,

National Union of Journalists,

Agar Court,

Monkgate, York

Updated: 12:31 Wednesday, October 30, 2002