I think the postal workers' strike is a tragedy. I can understand their concerns and I sympathise with their dilemma. But striking is not the best way to achieve their aims, because the history of previous industrial disputes shows the biggest victim of any strike are the strikers themselves.

The repeated miners' strikes have only succeeded in the closure of practically every coal mine in Britain. When the London and Liverpool dockers were walking out of their ports, Rotterdam was enlarging and modernising. Our shipyards, car industry and steel works were being gradually destroyed by the frequent industrial unrest, while our competitors in Europe and elsewhere were growing in strength.

The Royal Mail no longer has a monopoly of the postal service. Continuous disruption of the collection and delivery of letters and parcels, particularly before Christmas, will drive the business customers above all to look for alternatives.

Many private firms offering similar services will benefit from the unfortunate situation at the Royal Mail. Some of the important commercial clients of the Royal Mail will be lost forever.

George Hebda

Leek Road

Cheadle