IN his weekly article on June 22, Chris Moncrieff, writing about likely strikes by teachers, London Underground workers and other malcontents, described the reasons for these actions as “matters which will not be resolved by a shouting match”.

Quite right.

They will only be resolved by a government which cares equally for the rights and welfare of all its citizens, rich and poor, or by concerted action to work for a fairer and open society where we do not see the wealth and bonuses of the rich rise and rise, while the poorer are discriminated against.

Recently in The Press you have reported on the growing gap between richer and poorer people, on the vast “golden handshake” given to the recently retired chief executive of Marks & Spencer, and to the cuts which will affect the poorest, particularly single women, in present pay and future pensions.

This is grossly unfair. Evidence shows conclusively that those nations with the greatest differences between the highest and the lowest paid suffer more crime, more illness, more problems of every kind, when compared with those with the most narrow gaps.

So we must work, campaign and, if necessary, strike to bring about a fairer distribution of resources.

Joyce Pickard, Hansom Place, York.

• ALL THE fuss being made at the moment about pensions brings home the truth about how our governments treat hard-working people.

I still have not had a satisfactory reply regarding the ex-sevicemen’s pension robbery scam that I brought to public notice a few weeks ago (Letters, May 17), despite writing to the appropriate ministers.

Even if the public service workers do get their agreement, who’s to guarantee that subsequent governments won’t change the goalposts, without telling anybody, to suit themselves?

That is the way the people in power now seem to operate; no wonder there is no confidence in our ruling parties.

Phill Thomas, Brecksfields, Skelton, York.