IAN Dawson of Bradford rather mysteriously has a pop at the trade unions over the Rowntree job losses (Letters, March 9).

Now maybe we've been reading a different paper, but I seem to remember our colleagues in GMB campaigning long and hard to try to save jobs at Rowntree's (and Terry's before that) - as well as lobbying the Government for many years against outsourcing.

And it's the GMB now who are in tough negotiations to win the best possible package for those whose jobs are at risk. I wonder what great track record of helping Rowntree's workers Mr Dawson can point to that entitles him to dismiss their efforts?

Perhaps some light can be shed on the mystery by the fact that the regional organiser for the far-right BNP also turns out to be one Ian Dawson. What a coincidence!

Or perhaps yet another pathetic and disrespectful attempt to exploit genuine problems to push their own twisted agenda?

I'm sure Rowntree workers will draw their own conclusions. Good luck and all support to them and the GMB in making the best of a bad situation. But "nil points" to extremists always on the look-out for ways to inject their poison into our city.

Ben Drake,

Chair,

York Unite Against Fascism,

c/o York City UNISON,

Swinegate Court East, York.

Updated: 09:40 Wednesday, March 15, 2006